About 13,000 Chinese alligators, also known as Yangtze alligators, are prepared for their winter move by the Chinese alligator national nature reserve to a greenhouse in Xuancheng, Anhui province, on Thursday. Photo: VCG

Chinese alligators lie on the back of truck in Xuancheng, Anhui province, while waiting to be moved to a greenhouse in the city for the winter on Thursday. Photo: VCG

A worker at the Chinese Alligator national nature reserve in Xuancheng, Anhui province, stands near several Chinese alligators on Thursday. Photo: VCG

Workers at the Chinese alligator national nature reserve in Xuancheng, Anhui province, wash a Chinese alligator as part of the alligator’s “wintering transition” on Thursday. All the Chinese alligators need to be cleaned and have physical examinations. Photo: VCG

Chinese alligators are moved into a greenhouse for the winter in Xuancheng, Anhui province, on Thursday. Photo: VCG