New Delhi, Feb. 26 -- The Chinese Alligator (Alligator sinensis), the small crocodilian species that inspired the Chinese dragon, is facing grave threats in its last stronghold according to a new study.

Not only do the reptiles continue to experience negative human pressures, many people in the area where their last population resides are unaware of them, as per the research.

"Absolute levels of knowledge and experience of alligators were low, highlighting the species' perilous status, and analysis of correlative patterns between respondents' experiences and associated data on human-environmental interactions provides new conservation-relevant insights," the paper noted.

The findings highlight the importance of conducting locally appro...