Rangers at the Anhui Chinese Alligator National Nature Reserve recently discovered 25 alligator eggs in the Yanglin sector, marking the area's first recorded wild breeding. With eggs found across all sectors this year, the reserve says the wild population has established a stable, self-sustaining breeding network.

The Chinese alligator, a "living fossil" that has inhabited the Yangtze River basin for over 200 million years, was nearing extinction by the 1990s, with fewer than 130 wild individuals remaining. After decades of conservation efforts, including captive breeding, artificial incubation and reintroduction, wild alligators are now breeding successfully and their numbers are steadily rising.

Conservation efforts also involve local farmers, who have revived traditional duck-rice farming to reduce chemical use and support the ecosystem. The approach has produced premium organic rice while helping residents better appreciate the importance of ecological stewardship.