A rare Steller sea lion was found resting on the coast of Dandong Port in northeast China's Liaoning Province on Monday.

Police officers set up a special area to protect the sea lion after communication with multiple departments.

"We saw the Steller sea lion lying on the shore, without visible injuries on its skin. Having no idea why it came here, all we could do was enclose the area and try not to disturb it. We also bought it some fish from nearby shops. It ate one and the rest of the time it was resting there," said Guo Wenqiang, a police officer at the border checkpoint of Dandong Port.

Female Steller sea lions are rarely seen in China's coastal waters. The creature belongs to the largest species in the sea lion family, which is under second-class state protection. Mainly living in the Pacific Ocean, it is listed as "Near Threatened" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

The Steller sea lion has been lingering on the shore and seems unwilling to leave. Experts have rushed to the site to implement further protective measures.

(Cover image from VCG)

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