{
  "id": 4074312,
  "title": "Mapping the Shadows: Scientists Uncover Critical Safe Havens for India’s Vanishing Smooth-Coated Otters in the Ganga Basin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/mapping-the-shadows-scientists-uncover-critical-safe-havens-for",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-29T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Research Matters India",
    "slug": "research-matters-india",
    "url": "https://researchmatters.in/news/mapping-shadows-scientists-uncover-critical-safe-havens-indias-vanishing-smooth-coated-otters"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Research Matters Staff Writer(s) Uttarakhand 29 Aug 2026 Along the sweeping, muddy bends of northern India’s riverways, the Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) acts as a vital guardian of freshwater health. As top predators in their aquatic ecosystems, these sleek, playful mammals keep fish populations balanced and serve as living indicators of clean water and thriving biodiversity.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}