Anhui launches Chinese Alligator release program of 2023

On the morning of June 1st, the launching ceremony for the 2023 Chinese Alligator release program was held at the main venue in the Chinese Alligator National Nature Reserve in Jing County, Anhui Province. Four sub-venues in Xuancheng City's Xuanzhou District, Langxi County, Guangde City, and Nanling County participated in the event through real-time video linkages. 20 Chinese Alligators (also known as the Yangtze Alligator) equipped with satellite trackers were returned to nature during the ceremony.

A total of 200 Chinese Alligators were released during this program. The release locations included seven areas within the reserve: Hongxing and Yanglin areas in Xuanzhou District, Gaojing Temple area in Langxi County, Zhucun area in Guangde City, Shuangkeng and Zhongqiao areas in Jing County, and Changle area in Nanling County. The release work is expected to be completed in early June.

This year marks the 19th time Anhui Province has conducted the Chinese Alligator release program in the wild, and it is also the fifth large-scale release since 2019. The cumulative number of released artificially-bred Chinese Alligators has reached 1,608. Monitoring shows that the wild population of Chinese Alligators has been increasing year by year, with an expanding distribution range and a more balanced population structure. The majority of released alligators have adapted to the wild environment and achieved natural reproduction. In 2021, field surveys recorded 395 Chinese Alligators (excluding those released in the same year), with 14 nests containing 320 eggs observed, resulting in the hatching of 137 hatchlings. In 2022, field surveys recorded 698 Chinese Alligators (excluding those released in the same year), with 26 nests containing 602 eggs observed, resulting in the hatching of 372 hatchlings. According to the latest survey, as of May 2023, the wild population of Chinese Alligators has reached approximately 1,200, demonstrating significant success in the Chinese Alligator release program. (Reported by Shi Ruiwen)