With bulging bellies toward the ceiling, a group of spotted seals is enjoying peace in the water of a spotted seal rescue center at the Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute.

Wang Zhen, a 34-year-old assistant research fellow from Hebei Province, joined the institute in 2018 and has dedicated himself to spotted seal rescue and marine mammal research.

"It's great to see the rescued seals released into the wild after they were assessed to meet the releasing conditions, and survive by themselves," Wang said.

Under top-class national protection in China, the spotted seal is the only pinniped marine mammal to breed in Chinese waters.