Anhui Yangtze Alligator National Nature Reserve staff discovered a wild Chinese alligator nest in the wetland of Guangde City in east China's Anhui Province. Earlier, an alligator was found near a pile of dirt and grass, displaying aggressive behavior. It turned out that the pile was a nest holding 18 eggs in it.

It's the first time a wild alligator nest has been discovered in the area after artificially bred Chinese alligators were released into the wild. The Chinese alligator, also known as the Yangtze Alligator, is classified as critically endangered. 

According to the latest data released by Anhui Chinese Alligator National Nature Reserve, 1,040 artificially bred alligators have been released into the wild by the reserve. Of these, 428 eggs were laid in the wild and only 279 were hatched naturally. For the newly discovered nest, the staff will carry out daily monitoring and protection to ensure the eggs are hatched naturally.

(Cover image is a screenshot.)

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