Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Madras High Court directed local bodies to submit an action plan to prevent pollution in the Vaigai River. Vaigai River originates from Varusanadu and Megamalai hills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. It flows southeast through the Pandya Nadu region, rarely flooding, and drains into the Palk Strait near Pamban Bridge. The river is 258 km long, with a basin area of 7,741 sq. km entirely in Tamil Nadu. Vaigai is fed by the Periyar Dam in Kerala, with water diverted through a tunnel in the Western Ghats. Vaigai is mentioned in Sangam literature and is central to Madurai, the ancient Pandya kingdom’s capital.

Notes:
Egyptian researchers have discovered a spotted hyena, also known as the laughing hyena, in southern Egypt after 5,000 years. This carnivorous animal, also known as the laughing hyena, is a strong hunter and the largest member of the hyena family. It has excellent night vision and a matriarchal social order. The hyena is found in various open, dry habitats in sub-Saharan Africa. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Notes:
The Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) was discovered for the first time in Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki, after a long gap. This omnivorous bird primarily feeds on insects, slugs, and grass seeds. It is found in grasslands in mountain ranges, particularly in Australia, parts of India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, northern Kerala), and Asia. Male birds have golden-orange plumage during breeding and distinctive calls. The bird is listed as Least Concern by IUCN. Mathikettan Shola is in the Western Ghats, Kerala.

Notes:
Black kites were recently found nesting in a tower structure in Chennai. They are medium-sized birds of prey from the Accipitridae family. Unlike other raptors, they are opportunistic hunters, often gliding in thermals to search for food. They have brown plumage, dark wingtips, bead-like dark brown eyes, and a hooked black beak. Their habitat ranges from wetlands and coasts to grasslands and woodlands. They are mainly found in tropical regions of Australasia, Eurasia, and Africa. They are monogamous and form lifelong pair bonds.

Notes:
Mission Amrit Sarovar has rejuvenated or built over 68,000 ponds, helping address water scarcity. It was launched in 2022 under “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.” It aims to develop or rejuvenate 75 Amrit Sarovars in each district, targeting around 50,000 ponds nationwide.

Notes:
The carcass of a 45-50-year-old male elephant was found in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) near the Indo-Nepal border. Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) is a protected area in the Upper Gangetic Plain, Uttar Pradesh. It became part of ‘Project Tiger’ in 1987 and is a core area of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. The sanctuary has a fragile Terai ecosystem with sal and teak forests, grasslands, swamps, and wetlands.

Notes:
Similipal Tiger Reserve successfully used the TrailGuard AI system as an anti-poaching tool. TrailGuard AI is a camera-based alert system designed for wildlife conservation and human-wildlife coexistence in remote areas. It combines durable hardware, AI algorithms, and real-time transmission. The system detects poachers, illegal loggers, and wildlife entering restricted areas. It captures images, processes them to identify animals, humans, or vehicles, and transmits alerts in 30-40 seconds. The system works on low power but switches to high power when detecting movement, ensuring quick intervention.

Notes:
The Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation has introduced a real-time monitoring and networking system in Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, covering 53 sq km. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1983. The sanctuary includes the catchment area of Peppara Dam, built on the Karamana River. The new system aims to enhance wildlife protection and conservation efforts in the region.

Notes:
The first breeding site of the Blue-Cheeked Bee-eater in peninsular India was discovered in saltpans of Aandivilai near the Manakudy Mangroves, Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu. This bird belongs to the bee-eater family (Meropidae) and was previously known as a migrant and winter visitor in India. It prefers sub-tropical semi-desert regions with sparse trees like acacias for breeding. It nests alone or in small colonies and sometimes shares colonies with European bee-eaters. Its breeding range includes the Nile Delta, Pakistan, and Iran, while it winters in Africa. It breeds in sandy deserts near water bodies.

Notes:
Scientists discovered deadly brine pools beneath the Red Sea that kill or stun marine life. Brine pools are hypersaline, oxygen-lacking lakes on the seafloor, denser than surrounding ocean water. They are also called “underwater lakes” because their high salt content prevents mixing with seawater. The Orca Basin in the Gulf of Mexico has the deepest known brine pool, 2,200 meters below sea level. This pool is 8 times saltier than the Gulf, with a salt content of 300 g/liter. Most sea life cannot survive in these pools, but some specialized organisms thrive.