On November 29, 2019, volunteers from China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF)’s China Conservation Area for Spotted Seals at Dalian (CCAfa) organized science popularization lectures to promote student’s awareness of the protection of spotted seals, the endangered marine mammal. Led by Director Tang of the CCAfa site, a group of six people did not fear the severe cold of the winter in the early morning and went all the way to Wanfangdian to hold three special lectures on the protection of spotted seals in one day.

At the Central Elementary School of Xianyuwan Town, Wafangdian City, the first lecture on the protection of the unique marine mammal to the Bohai Sea spotted seal was held, and an awarding ceremony to the student’s volunteers at the CCAfa site was held. Xianyu Bay is a famous tourist spot near the sea with beautiful beach scenery. Director Tang vividly explained the living habits, habitats, and current status of spotted seals.

The cute spotted seals have been wildly poached in recent years because of their great ornamental value and have fallen from more than 2,000 to more than 1,000 in the past. The ice floes in the Bohai Bay in winter provide a unique habitat for spotted seals to breed and raise pups. Newborn spotted seal cubs are covered with white fluff. After half a month, the newborn fluff is removed before it can enter the water. Spotted seal is a national second-level protected animal, and is an indicator species of the sensitive marine environment, which is of great significance for maintaining biodiversity. Combined with playing the video, the students stared at round eyes, listened attentively, and exclaimed "lovely" from time to time.

During the wonderful interactive Q&A session, the children raised their small hands and scrambled to answer questions. "How long is the life of Spotted seals", "Why to protect spotted seals", "What actions are needed to protect spotted seals" and so on, have deepened the students' understanding of the lecture content, and many students also got beautiful and lovely plush toys in the shape of a spotted seal. Listening to the students' discussions and watching the children's smiling faces, director Tang and his team were very pleased. Next, an awarding ceremony was held for the "Protection of Spotted Seals Volunteer Class" and the "Shoots and Forests Environmental Protection Team". The lecture ended with the slogan "Teaching Spotted Seals, Protecting the Environment, Protecting Ourselves" together. Finally, volunteers took pictures with teachers and students.

In the afternoon of the same day, the team held two popular science lectures on spotted seals protection, as well as the ceremonies of awarding to young volunteers at the Honghe Hope Primary School and Tuoshan Township Primary School.

The time of the day ends with the non-stop running. Although it was cold and hard, the children were sent environmental protection knowledge and sowed the seeds of hope for marine ecological environmental protection. Everyone felt that they had worked hard and harvested happiness. This past day is comforting and satisfying. It makes sense.

In February 2019, a vicious incident of poaching of more than 100 spotted seals cubs occurred on Changxing Island in Wafangdian, Liaoning Province, which aroused attention at home and abroad. Government departments at all levels have strongly promoted the protection of spotted seals. This time, the CBCGDF CCAfa volunteers team chose to go to the campuses near the seaside to conduct popular science lectures to protect spotted seals, one of the reasons is that these three schools are not far from the poaching case, the other reason is that all three primary schools have children of fishermen in Liaodong Bay. Therefore, through face-to-face education for a special group of more children from fishermen's families, hoping to more effectively disseminate knowledge and regulations to protect spotted seals. The protection of spotted seals is more effectively and widely achieved by children as a medium of transmission.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF volunteers)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4855/10590.html

By / Wang Yanqing Modified / Niu Jingmei