Title
Reproduction in a Reintroduced Population of Chinese Alligators
Author(s)
Platt, Steven G. ;He, Qijing ;Wang, Jiangtao ;Lu, Shunqing
Published
2016
Publisher
Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter
Abstract
The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is considered the most critically
endangered crocodilian in the world (Xing 2010). Fewer than
150 Chinese alligators survive in the wild, and these occur
in small populations at widely scattered sites; the largest
population at any particular site numbers no more than 20
individuals and contains <10 adults (Thorbjarnarson and
Wang 1999; Thorbjarnarson et al. 2002; Thorbjarnarson
and Wang 2010). In contrast to the tenuous conservation
status of wild populations, ex-situ propagation has proven
remarkably successful and thousands of alligators (>14,000
in 2015; Lu Shunqing, unpubl. data) are now maintained at
two Government-operated conservation-breeding centers
in China (Thorbjarnarson and Wang 2010; Platt 2012). An
action plan prepared in 2001 by Chinese and international
scientists strongly recommended that new wild populations
be established by releasing captive-bred A. sinensis into
suitable, but unoccupied habitat (Jiang et al. 2006). To this
end, a trial release of 6 adult Chinese alligators (2M:4F) was
conducted at Dongtan Wetland Park (DWP) on Chongming
Island in June 2007 (Thorbjarnarson and Wang 2010; Platt
2012; Lu et al. 2014). DWP is a popular outdoor recreation
area located on the outskirts of Shanghai encompassing 860
ha of restored freshwater marsh (described in greater detail by
Lu et al. 2014). Thorbjarnarson and Wang (2010) considered
DWP the most important site for alligator conservation in
China.
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