Observation of Activity in Chinese Alligators Released During an Early Period at Hongxing of Anhui

Two female and one male healthy adult Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis) from Anhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator Reproduction were chosen by the veterinarians examination,and released with collars at Hongxing reservoir of Xuanzhou in Anhui Province on April 27th,2003.Radio telemetry,direct observation by binoculars in daytime and spotlight night counting in night-time were used to find out their activity area and movement pattern,and totally 372 movement points for them were recorded during an early period of four weeks.The results show that each individual has its own steady activity area after 3 to 14 days released;the male has a relative larger activity area and a larger change of daily movement area than those of the females;they are apt to choose the bank edge with good condition of vegetation coverage for live.The alligators released conflict with native ones in the reservoir occasionally,showing territory characteristics of this species.