Rehab, Release, Repeat: Nana, the Seal Who Refuses to Return to the Wild

In wildlife preservation, there are 3 actions to assisting a hurt or orphaned animal: rescue, restore, and release. “Returning” isn’t part of the strategy, however attempt informing that to China’s star seal Nana.

This 2-year-old wild spotted seal, a Class I safeguarded types in China, was a must-see tourist attraction this summer season for visitors to Dachangshan Island, part of Dalian’s Changshan Archipelago in the northeastern Liaoning province.

Nana has actually been launched two times far out into the Yellow Sea, with the hope he ‘d sign up with a migrating nest. Both times he’s made his method back alone, when covering more than 200 kilometers in simply 6 days.

When he initially appeared on the island in June, he watched out for people and swam away when approached. Over time, he grew braver. Travelers lured him near with delicious fish, though this often led to him getting a prod or a kick, and frequently a shocking cam flash.

Worried for Nana’s well-being, the city government set up indication informing individuals not to feed him and to keep a safe range, and promised “not to utilize him to promote tourist.” Within months, a “Nana Line” shuttle bus service had actually opened, running straight from the island’s Yuanyang Port to its “finest seal-watching area,” while the regional tourist bureau started working with a personal service to make and offer seal-related product.

For numerous residents, Nana’s existence has actually been bittersweet: he’s a charming addition to the area, however the dangers to his security surpass the advantages, they state.

Regardless of the falling temperature level, authorities have actually dismissed moving him once again, much to the pleasure of those who feel the seal has actually “made his option.” As the traveler season ends and his constant, fan-fueled food supply dries up, others fret that Nana might deal with a severe winter season alone.

Hey there, brand-new next-door neighbor

Nana was simply a puppy in the summertime of 2024, when anglers initially identified him resting on a buoy in waters off Beihai, in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Observing he was thin and had injuries on his body, most likely triggered by boat props, they informed the authorities, who transferred him to the Beihai Aquatic Rescue and Rehabilitation.

The area where Nana was found lies simply off a migration path for spotted seals in between the western Pacific Ocean and Dalian’s Liaodong Bay. Professionals believe he wandered from his nest and was stranded alone.

In November 2025, after being nursed back to health, Nana was moved to a wild types rehab center in Dalian run by the Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science and Research Institute. There, he rapidly went from 50 to 70 kgs and grew a brand-new coat of shiny fur. “You might see him looking much better every day,” states Chai Yuqiao, a scientist at the base.

By this spring, Nana was considered all right to go back to the wild. On April 16, the institute launched him and 2 other saved seals approximately 10 kilometers from coast in the Yellow Sea, believing they would naturally head for the migration path and discover a brand-new nest.

Nana’s 2 buddies did precisely that, however information from his satellite tag reveals he never ever left the Yellow Sea. 2 months later on, he appeared at Dachangshan Island.

Residents initially identified the seal relaxing in a rocky tide swimming pool on June 19.

“Back then he bewared and hardly ever came close,” remembers Feng Zhi, who runs a guesthouse on the island. “He ‘d simply spend time, and if somebody strolled over, he ‘d swim away.”

That altered the more he communicated with travelers. “Wherever the crowd was thickest, that’s where he ‘d be,” states Li Ai, who likewise operates in the hospitality market. “But he can be particular about individuals,” she includes, describing that Nana appeared specifically keen on a wetsuit-wearing livestreamer referred to as “Man in Black,” who has 24,000 fans on Douyin, the Chinese variation of TikTok. Nana typically chased him and cuddled up to him.

Zhou Long, another guesthouse supervisor, states Nana when squeezed in between him and numerous pals as they stood in the shallows. The seal was warm, slippery, and plump, “like a balloon that’s about to pop,” he states.

Individuals quickly started feeding Nana fish and cuddling him when he got close. A regional boat captain states he typically attempted stopping travelers from doing this, however couple of listened. He fretted Nana may mistakenly be fed a fish consisting of a fishhook, “the repercussions of which do not bear considering.”

Some individuals were even caught on monitoring electronic cameras tossing Nana barbecued meat, bread, and potato chips, foods that might seriously disturb his gastrointestinal system, while others kicked him, and senseless kids tossed stones at him.

“I could not bear to view and could not do anything about it. I might just reverse and leave,” states Li.

Lots of residents breathed a sigh of relief on Sept. 7 when the authorities lastly showed up to take Nana away.

Gone, however not forgotten

To secure and “re-wild” Nana, the Changhai County federal government, which administers Dachangshan Island, chose to once again transfer the seal out to the Yellow Sea, this time to an area about 140 kilometers away by boat.

Nana was back on the island simply 6 days later on. His tracking tag had actually fallen off a month previously, however Tian Jiashen, director of marine unusual animal preservation research study at the Liaoning institute, approximates the seal’s return journey need to have covered a minimum of 200 kilometers.

Zhou had a hint he ‘d not seen the last of Nana. Social network users had actually been excitedly sharing news of sightings, and the seal was getting closer all the time. On the night of Sept. 13, Zhou went to the coast, opened a livestream, and lay in wait, with almost 200 fans going to enjoy.

As night fell, Zhou heard a splash, like “a substantial animal jumping into the water.” When he ran over, Nana was next to the blue pontoon bridge that he ‘d often visited all summer season.

Within hours, Lin Gao, a staff member at a beachside water sports center, had actually re-installed the huge inflatable yellow duck Nana had actually liked to sleep on. “We could not let him return and discover it gone,” he states, including that work had actually felt “hollow” without Nana around.

Tian confesses he never ever anticipated the seal to return today thinks Nana’s interactions with travelers may have rekindled his memories of being saved and fed by people.

Personnel at the Liaoning institute recall that Nana was at first more curious than careful. Marine scientist Chen Yanyu states he was when scrubbing the raising swimming pool when Nana remarkably pressed a long-handled brush towards his hand. He terribly wished to pat the seal’s head, however that would protest the guidelines of “rehabilitation and release.”

In wildlife preservation, keeping a safe range is vital. Saved seals are fed by putting live fish into the swimming pool, while scientists intentionally approach the animals with internet to condition them to prevent individuals. By the time of his release, Nana had actually started seeing the personnel from afar.

On that very first release day, Chen viewed Nana move down the boat’s ramp into the sea with tears in his eyes.

When the seal ended up being a celeb, the institute came under attack from netizens who felt it had actually stopped working in its duties to fix up Nana.

Tian, who has actually worked there because 2010, thinks the criticism was unjust. He described that the institute is manned year-round by scientists who offer their time totally free, which in the previous 20 years it has actually assisted rescue 244 found seals, launching 223.

“The sea is his home, and he ought to go home,” he includes, discussing Nana. “Keeping him here, in a human environment– that would be ruthlessness.”

The dangers human habits posture to wildlife are apparent. Ah Nong, a spotted seal saved late in 2015 after investing 15 months in waters off Wenchang, in the southern island province of Hainan, was discovered to have diarrhea, raised liver function, and ultraviolet skin burns from being fed, touched, and photographed by travelers.

When Nana returned a 2nd time, Chai and some coworkers wished to go see him, “to discover whether he still remembered us.” Others, like scientist Shi Hongyue, held another desire: that a person day they would encounter Nana naturally throughout a study of a wild nest.

Sealing his fate?

Nana ended up being much more popular after going back to Dachangshan Island last month. By 7 a.m., a minimum of 10 livestreamers would currently be established on coast, waiting on the seal to awaken. These channels rapidly ended up being a crucial marketing tool for guesthouses and other regional companies.

In August, Chinese media priced estimate an unnamed regional authorities as stating that authorities “would not utilize (Nana) for cultural tourist promos.” That mindset appeared to move after the seal’s return in September.

The Changhai Culture and Tourism Bureau opened the “Nana Line” on Sept. 25, and beachside stalls hawking Nana-themed merch started appearing this month.

More indication and speakers have actually been positioned along the beach, advising travelers that feeding safeguarded types is prohibited, while enforcement officers and volunteers now frequently patrol the location. The city government has actually revealed it will not try to move Nana once again and is preparing to construct him a shelter on the pontoon bridge, far from the crowds.

Homeowners state the feeding and touching has actually decreased, however it still takes place.

This will naturally track off as the traveler and fishing seasons unwind ahead of the coldest months, leading some to fret that Nana might starve. In spite of the guidelines, in October, Sun Zongjun, the owner of the water sports center, promised on a livestream that “we’ll absolutely keep feeding him when it gets cold.” The county federal government has yet to validate whether live fish stocks will be attended to the seal over winter season.

Tian states it’s tough to forecast whether Nana will ever leave and totally go back to nature; it depends upon varied elements like water temperature level, his physiological state, and whether he fulfills any buddies and signs up with a brand-new nest.

Scientific research studies utilizing tracking information reveal that spotted seals tend to rest or reproduce in the exact same location, every year. Tian thinks this habits, and his memories of human interaction, might be what led Nana back to Dachangshan Island.

While a lot of residents mored than happy to invite Nana “home,” his existence has actually likewise brought pressure. “Our island lives off tourist. Occurs to him, the criticism of millions of individuals might crash down on us in an immediate,” states Lin, who frequently volunteers to patrol the pontoon bridge in the early hours.

On the majority of nights, Nana can be discovered sleeping comfortably on his huge yellow duck as it rocks carefully in the waves. Quickly, he will be participated in these waters by other spotted seals. Nobody understands what will follow.

“It’s great if Nana stays,” states Liu Yi, a guesthouse owner on the island. “But I still hope he leaves.”

(Due to personal privacy issues, Lin Gao, Feng Zhi, Li Ai, Zhou Long, and Liu Yi are pseudonyms.)

Reported by Qin Bing and Feng Haoni.

A variation of this short article initially appeared in The Beijing NewsIt has actually been equated and modified for brevity and clearness, and is republished here with consent.

Translator: PaperBuddy; editors: Wang Juyi and Hao Qibao.

(Header image: Nana comes ashore at Dachangshan Island, Liaoning, Sept. 27, 2026. From Xiaohongshu)