Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, 300 acres of encroached forest land were cleared in Bukkapatna Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located in Tumakuru district of Karnataka. This area was declared a sanctuary in 2019 to protect the Indian Gazelle, also called Chinkara. It is the second Chinkara sanctuary in Karnataka after Yadahalli in Bagalkot district, declared in 2016. The sanctuary has wood savannahs with plenty of grasses and scattered native trees. It supports rich wildlife and helps conserve the Chinkara population.

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A new freshwater fish species named Barilius imphalensis was recently discovered in the Imphal River, Manipur. It is locally called “Ngawa” in the Meitei language. The fish belongs to the Danionidae family and Chedrinae subfamily, known for vibrant patterns and ecological value. It is endemic to the Imphal River and differs from similar species in India and Southeast Asia. It lives in clear, shallow waters 3 to 5 feet deep, with gravel beds and riverbank plants.

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Recently, lotus flowers have bloomed again in Wular Lake in Kashmir after nearly three decades, bringing hope to local communities. This revival follows ecological restoration efforts, including desilting, aimed at boosting the local economy through lotus stem harvesting. Wular Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India and the second largest in Asia. It is located in the Bandipore district of Jammu and Kashmir and is fed by the Jhelum River.

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Recently, a new skipper butterfly species named Zographetus mathewi was discovered in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. It was identified by a team from Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), Institute of Tropical Research, Ecology and Conservation (INTREC), and Zoological Survey of India. The butterfly belongs to the family Hesperiidae and is the 15th species in the Zographetus Watson, 1893 genus and fifth recorded in India. It is endemic to low-elevation forests in Kerala. It is named in honour of George Mathew, an eminent Indian entomologist.

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A new gecko species named Cnemaspis brahmaputra was recently discovered in Assam at Dirgheswari Temple on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River. It has been named after the Brahmaputra River to honour the discovery location. The gecko belongs to the Cnemaspis podihuna clade, a group of small, daytime-active (diurnal) geckos. This clade was earlier believed to exist mainly in Sri Lanka. Its discovery in Assam proves an ancient biogeographic link between Sri Lanka and northeast India.

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Recently, citizens including local youth gathered at Akurdi to protest against the Pavana River rejuvenation project. The Pavana River is located in the western part of Maharashtra. It flows through Pune city and divides Pune and the Pimpri-Chinchwad area. The river originates from the Western Ghats, about 6 km south of Lonavala. It flows around 60 km before merging with the Mula River in Pune.

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Tamil Nadu has recently announced the establishment of India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore district. Hornbills, called “farmers of the forest”, are vital seed dispersers aiding forest regeneration. They are under threat due to deforestation, habitat loss, and climate change impacts. Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) was chosen due to its rich biodiversity and conservation history for species like tigers, elephants, and lion-tailed macaques.

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Lantana camara, an invasive alien species, now infests about 3,25,282 hectares of forest land in Himachal Pradesh, threatening native biodiversity. It was introduced in India in the early 18th century as an ornamental plant and is native to Central and South America. Lantana camara releases allelochemicals, suppressing native plants and reducing biodiversity by forming dense bushy layers. It is spreading from lower to higher altitudes, worsening its ecological impact. Its biomass can be reused for furniture, fuelwood, compost, and vermicompost, promoting organic farming and reducing reliance on inorganic manure.

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Scientists recently discovered two new species of wart sea slugs named Phyllidia ovata and Phyllidia fontjei in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Sea slugs, also called Nudibranchs, are soft-bodied marine molluscs found in oceans worldwide. They belong to Phylum Mollusca and Class Gastropoda, resembling naked snails without shells. They live in coral reefs and feed on algae, sponges, and small invertebrates, making them key indicators of healthy coral ecosystems. Their bright colours warn predators due to toxicity, which they acquire from prey like jellyfish.

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A massive toxic algal bloom of Karenia mikimotoi off South Australia, first detected in March 2025, has killed over 400 marine species and hit tourism and fishing hard. The bloom spans 4,500 square km and is worsened by a marine heatwave since 2024 with 2.5°C rise in sea temperature. Karenia mikimotoi is a red-tide dinoflagellate commonly found in the eastern North Atlantic and around Japan. It releases hemolytic and ichthyo toxins that cause mass deaths of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Though it does not directly harm humans, its blooms create anoxic (oxygen-depleted) waters when dead cells decay.