24只斑海豹被放归大海 Rare spotted seals released to sea in NE China

Photo taken on April 11, 2019 shows a spotted seal to be released back into the wild in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. [Photo: Xinhua]

Twenty-four spotted seals(海豹 hǎibào) were released(释放 shìfàng) into the sea(海 hǎi) on Thursday in the coastal city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The 24 released seals were among 100 baby spotted seals that were illegally poached(盗捕 dào bǔ) in Feb. 2019, according to the provincial government.

Photo taken on April 11, 2019 shows a spotted seal being released back into the wild in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. [Photo: Xinhua]

A total of 39 seals died, and the surviving(存活 cúnhuó) 61 have been taken care of by animal experts(专家 zhuānjiā) and vets(兽医 shòuyī) in local aquariums and Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute.

"We treated the spotted seals seperately according to their health(健康 jiànkāng) and developmental status(情况 qíngkuàng). The ones in poor physical condition recovered after a series of treatments(治疗 zhìliáo)," said Han Jiabo, head of the institute.

Photo taken on April 11, 2019 shows a spotted seal being released back into the wild in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. [Photo: Xinhua]

The seals released to the sea on Thursday were all fully recovered(恢复 huīfù) and are healthy enough to survive in natural habitat waters, according to Han.

The rest of the spotted seals will be released after further health assessments(评估 pínggū).

Photo taken on April 11, 2019 shows a spotted seal swimming after it was released back into the wild in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. [Photo: Xinhua]

Spotted seals are under Class One national protection(保护 bǎohù) in China.

重点词汇 Key word:

归

• <动词 v.> give something back to; return something to
  E.g. Nǐ shénme shíhou guīhuán qiàn kuǎn.
  你什么时候归还欠款。
  When can you give back the money that you owe?

• <动词 v.> belong to
  E.g. Fángzi guī tā, jiājù guī nǐ.
  房子归她,家具归你。
  The house will be hers and the furniture yours.

• <动词 v.> take/be in charge
  E.g. Wǒ bùzài shí gāi bùmén guī tā fùzé.
  我不在时该部门归他负责。
  He will take charge of the department during my absence.

• <连词 conjunction> (used between two verbs) despite
  E.g. Shuō guī shuō, zuò guī zuò.
  说归说,做归做。
  Talking is one thing, doing is another.