Critically endangered gharials found in the Mahanadi River are on the brink of extirpation which demands urgent conservation efforts for its survival. This study examines the dependencies of local people on the Mahanadi River and their perception of gharials. Despite living with gharials for years, people are still unaware of their ecological role and perceive them as a threat, similar to other crocodile; therefore, awareness on gharial ecology among the local riverside residents near critical gharial habitats may be useful for gharial conservation. Photograph by Ashaharraza Khan.