Scientists to help save alligator river from foreseen danger.

   The Alligator River that carves a dark vein through 75 miles of freshest swamp on North Carolina's eastern shore face a threat yesterday,20th April after gaining protection for its habitat that safeguards rare species from the pressure that plague the Albermarle peninsula.
     The Nature conservancy and partners purchased the last 8,500acres of unprotected land along the river and nearly 270,000acres along the fingers of freshwater and brackish marsh reaching inland from Albermarle sound have been preserved.
    "Almost 500,00acres of protected land in northeastern North Carolina are extremely vulnerable to small changes in sea level",says Fred Annand,associate director of the conservancy's work in North Carolina. "But by protecting the shoreline,we can give it a chance to evolve into a healthy ecosystem
   "There is no place else in the state where both sides of a river are protected and "protecting the river means protecting species and peatland rare to North Carolina" says Tommy Hughes,a biologist for state Wildlife resource commission.
   To further protect the river's associated habitats,the conservancy purchased an additional 25,00acres of freshwater wetlands,saltwater marshes and wooden swamp to form the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.