37 spotted seal pups rescued from China traffickers released
BEIJING — Animal rights groups on Saturday cheered the release of 37 spotted seal pups rescued from traffickers into the wild in northern China in a small victory for efforts to save the country’s endangered species.
Humane Society International said the pups were discovered three months ago by police in a shed in a remote coastal farm in the northern Chinese city of Dalian, many of them starving and dying. Eight suspects were arrested in the operation.
The society’s Chinese partner, VShine, sent a representative to participate in the release by the Dalian authorities.
It said the pups had been taken from the wild by traffickers for the aquarium industry and for display in aquariums, shops and restaurants. Another 29 pups could not be rescued and died, having been only about 2 weeks old when found and not yet weaned from their mothers. Earlier this month, an initial batch of 24 pups was released.