Ecological restoration lures spotted seals, cormorants to Shandong island

By Zhao Ruixue| (chinadaily.com.cn)| Updated : 2026-03-23

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Spotted seals and a large flock of migratory sea cormorants have been recently spotted on Changdao Island in Shandong province.

The seals have arrived earlier than usual, with 41 individuals monitored so far, marking a steady increase in the population, according to the Marine Ecological Civilization Comprehensive Experimental Zone in Changdao.

The sea cormorants fly to Changdao in March to feed and rest as they head north.

Ongoing ecological restoration efforts in Changdao have improved the island's environment. Eelgrass and other algae species, absent for many years, have begun to thrive once again. Marine life forms, including white dolphins and whales, are now frequently spotted in the surrounding waters.

Video by Liu Chuan and Wang Huai.