Some 92 alligators in captivity have escaped from a farm in Wuhu county, Anhui province due to the ongoing flooding. The Wuhu County Communications Department released a statement saying that they have currently caught five of the alligators, while the rest are still on the loose.

A notice issued by the Anhui Wuhu County Tourism Bureau was also posted on the official Weibo of China Police Network. In the notice, the local government was asked to "verify as soon as possible the accurate number of escaped alligators, to put safety signs near the farm to prevent the alligators from hurting people, and to organize personnel to catch the escaped alligators. "　

The owner of the farm, surnamed Tao, told the media that he had reinforced the wire fence of the farm in response to the government's requirement after the flood. However, an unexpected situation still arose on the night of July 2. "Because of the rising water, some alligators escaped from the pond. I still don't know the exact number," Tao said. He notified the local police right after the escape occurred. Tao said that nearly 30 people in the vicinity are currently looking for the alligators. The escaped animals are likely still somewhere within the confines of the farm, according to Tao.

In the mean time, the communications department has stated that Chinese alligators in captivity are not aggressive. They are also an endangered species under national protection.