A stranded spotted seal cub was rescued by a fisherman in Liaodong Bay in Panjin City in northeast China's Liaoning Province.  

This was not the only cub being rescued. This year warm winter caused an early ice melt, so spotted seal cubs have been falling into the water ahead of time and get easily stranded on the shores. 

Every late October spotted seals migrate to Liaodong Bay from the Yellow Sea and South Korea's Baengnyeong Island. The water at Liaodong Bay usually freezes at the end of December, and female spotted seals give birth on the ice. 

So far this year, four to five groups of spotted seals were found in Liaodong Bay. Last year, around 150 spotted seals were seen there. The number of spotted seals is estimated to increase by 10 percent this year.

(Cover image via VCG)

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