A nature reserve in Xuancheng, east China’s Anhui Province, has begun moving its Yangtze alligators indoors as winter temperatures set in. The warm, specially designed rooms help the endangered reptiles enter brumation, a period of dormancy that typically starts in late November or early December and lasts until March.

Yi Pingsi, head of animal management at the reserve, said the transfer begins “when the outdoor water temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius”. This year, new sound barriers have been added to the rooms to reduce disturbance during cleaning, alongside strict disinfection measures to keep out outdoor microorganisms. Once indoors, staff monitor the alligators’ health, with extra data taken from those involved in scientific research.

Established in 1979, the Anhui Yangtze Alligator National Nature Reserve has led efforts in breeding, habitat protection, wild release and public education. Its captive-born population now exceeds 10,000, and more than 1,900 Yangtze alligators have successfully returned to the wild.

Source: China Central Television