Seal Nana Swims 200 Km Back To Chinese Island After Release

A two-year-old seal named Nana has returned to Dachangshan Island in northeastern China’s Liaoning province after being released into the ocean, drawing widespread attention on Chinese social media.

Nana’s 200km return

Videos of Nana returning to the shores of Dachangshan Island touched internet users, with the seal shown back at a human-inhabited place where it had previously lived for months.

Nana was released into the ocean on September 7 and reappeared on the island on September 13 after covering 200km, the Science Education Times reported.

The distance was tracked through positioning equipment attached to Nana’s body, according to the report.

Why experts think she came back

Experts believe Nana may associate people with safety because she was cared for by humans for a long time.

That history has made the seal’s return especially striking, as it marks the second time Nana has come back to a human-inhabited area after being freed into open seas.

Nana’s journey has resonated online because it combines a long swim with an apparent pull back toward familiar human surroundings.

Source: South China Morning Post