There are signs that two of Ocean Park's four Chinese alligators, an endangered species, may mate this year in what could be a breakthrough for the park's ambitious breeding programme.
Signs of a successful mating should be evident by the end of August, chief veterinarian Dr Paolo Martelli said. The peak mating period is in June and July with eggs usually laid in September. Alligators hibernate during winter.
'I've seen them being very close but I haven't actually seen them mating,' Martelli said.
'At the moment, what we are doing is waiting for the female to show some signs of nesting.'
Building a nest indicates the female, which has been exerting her dominance over the other two females, is pregnant and ready to lay eggs. Twigs, leaves, soil and other materials have been placed in the alligators' new enclosure in preparation for possible nest building. The other two females were moved out of the enclosure late last year and are no longer on public display after the dominant female became aggressive.
Martelli said he decided not to subject her to an ultrasound scan to avoid stressing her, something that could ruin any chance of a successful mating this year. Instead, he is scanning the other two females to check the development of their ovaries in the hopes this can give an indication of the dominant female's reproductive development. All the females are about nine years old and Chinese alligators generally become sexually mature from the age of seven.