China exports captive-bred alligators to Czech Republic

HEFEI, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China has recently exported five Chinese alligators bred in captivity to the Czech Republic, according to a local alligator breeding center.

Among the five alligators, there is one male adult, which is 120 cm long, and four babies, including two males and two females with lengths ranging from 31 to 40 cm, according to the breeding center in Xuancheng, eastern China's Anhui Province.

After passing quarantine checks, the alligators left Xuancheng for the Czech Republic on March 27.

These alligators will be ornamental animals in the Czech Republic.

The Chinese alligator, also known as the Yangtze alligator and listed as a national first-class protected species in 1972, is endemic to eastern China. Anhui Province has been breeding the alligators in captivity since 1982.

Previously, China has exported the animal to Japan and Spain.