March 1st, 2019, “World Seal Day” organized by China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) was held in Dalian, where the appalling incident of the poaching of 100 spotted seals pups took place. This event is multi-purposed: It is intended to gather expertise advice on the rehabilitation of the rescued seal pups, explore constructive policies and regulations for future protection of this endangered animal species, and promote public awareness and participation in seal conservation.
This event was participated by a wide mix of interested individuals and organizations from across China. Participants included representatives from Dalian Municipal Government, Dalian Spotted Seal National Nature Reserve, Tiger Beach Rescue Center, Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute and Dalian Sunasia Ocean World. The Secretary-General of CBCGDF Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the General Manager of Liaoning BGI Xu Junguang, and Director of “China Spotted Seal Conservation Area · Dalian” Tang Zailin were invited participants of the meeting.
The meeting’s another honored attendee was Dr. Sara Platto, who is a world renowned senior veterinary and has been long researching in the field of animal behaviors and practicing and exploring such key questions as animal welfare, animal science and animal management in China. In fact, Dr. Platto is an old friend of CBCGDF. A few years ago, Dr. Platto worked with the director of CBCGDF’s Seal Conservation Area Tian Jiguang on the saving of spotted seals. Though lost contact since then, the CBCGDF’s Secretary-General Dr. Zhou Jinfeng quickly restored contact with Dr. Platto via social media and invited her to join CBCGDF’s rescuing work of the saved pups. Dr. Platto kindly accepted the invitation. We believe that Dr. Sara Platto’s rich experience in protecting, breeding and rescuing animals, and her various significant academic achievements, would be of utmost value to the endeavor of saving spotted seals. It should be admitted that currently adopted saving facilities and measures for the spotted seals remain far from ideal. For instance (discovered by CBCGDF’s field trip to Dalian immediately after the incident), feeding frequency may need to be increased from 2 times per day to 4 times per day, antibiotic treatment may need to be stopped, and a more healthy and nutritious formula may be used to help increase weight of the poor seal pups.
Another social repercussion of the 2.11 poaching incident has been a series of criticisms and anger towards existing protecting arrangements at the incident site. Serious doubts have been cast on the monitoring and execution ability of related parties in charge of seal protection. For instance, how patrolling is usually arranged (especially during the seals’ breeding season), how the criminals are punished if found, how assisting policies and regulations are formed and carried out for deterring seal poaching and selling, and how seals are identified in order to cut the underground black-market interest chain. In response to these potential holes on the regulatory side, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, an ardent apologist and prudent researcher in the field of biodiversity conservation, after reading through all the documents behind the Dalian incident, carefully categorized 7 proposals for future protective work concerning spotted seals. And the “World Seal Day” is the first occasion where these proposals have been disclosed to the public. They are summarized as follows:
1. Autopsy, rescuing work, and the inspection of report data should be carried throughout. Analyze causes of death. Summarize, improve, and regulate rescuing work.
2. Sampling and analyzing of whole genome oligonucleotide array are essential. Enhance scientific research work.
3. Summarize experience. Promote Law campaigns among the fishermen. Enhance development for livelihood support. Improve work performance in conservation areas.
4. Promote whole Ecological ID card and its management.
5. Legal and severer punishment of criminals, identify the interest chain (including the purchasing part). Establish precautionary and preventive mechanisms.
6. Regulations construction at the local and national level.
7. Based on National Spotted Seal Conservation Areas, develop China Spotted Seal Protected Areas. Encourage the participation of the society, volunteers and the public.
With the most earnest wish, CBCGDF sincerely hopes that this “World Seal Day” would result in a thorough transformation of existing protective programs of the spotted seals, one achievement that would be of invaluable implications for the endangered and lovely spotted seals.
(Photo credit: CBCGDF)
By / Lu Lei