Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is celebrating its 25th foundation day, marking a major milestone in India’s polar research journey. Established in 1998 as an autonomous Research and Development (R&D) institution under the Government of India, it is based in Goa. NCPOR leads India’s polar and Southern Ocean research, managing missions in some of the world’s most extreme environments. It operates India’s Antarctic stations “Maitri” and “Bharati”, and the Arctic station “Himadri”. It functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

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Citizens and environmentalists launched the ‘Save Bandipur’ protest in Karnataka after reports that the government may lift the night traffic ban on National Highway 766 (NH-766), which passes through Bandipur National Park. Bandipur National Park is a protected forest and tiger reserve located in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka. It was first set up in 1931 as Venugopala Wildlife Park by the Maharaja of Mysore, covering 90 square kilometers. It became a Tiger Reserve in 1973 under Project Tiger and joined the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986 due to its rich biodiversity and ecological importance.

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India, along with 62 countries, supported the world’s first global carbon tax on the shipping sector, approved by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the global body that adopted the first global carbon tax on the shipping industry. A Carbon Tax is a type of environmental tax charged on the carbon content in fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. It aims to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by making pollution more expensive and promoting clean energy alternatives. The tax is calculated based on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) or other GHGs released. It encourages a market-based climate solution, making industries shift to greener practices.

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Marine scientists have captured the world’s first video of a colossal squid swimming freely in the wild. This event comes nearly 100 years after the species was first discovered by researchers. The colossal squid is one of the largest and most mysterious invertebrates on Earth. Its scientific name is Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. It is found in the cold, deep waters of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. Despite its size and rarity, the colossal squid is listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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China is increasing its activities in the Yellow Sea after aggressive actions in the South China Sea, including building a huge steel rig. The Yellow Sea is called Huang Hai in China and West Sea in North and South Korea. It is a marginal sea of Western Pacific Ocean and lies north of the East China Sea. It is bordered by China on the north and west, and by North Korea and South Korea on the east. The sea gets its yellow color from sand particles blown in from the Gobi Desert. It covers about 400,000 square kilometers and stretches around 960 kilometers north to south and 700 kilometers east to west. It is shallow, with depths ranging from 55 to 120 meters. It includes one of the world’s largest areas of submerged continental shelf.

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Recently, Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary in Latehar district of Jharkhand was highlighted as India’s first and only wolf sanctuary. It is located in Jharkhand. Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary was declared in 1976 to protect the Indian grey wolf, scientifically known as Canis lupus pallipes. It covers an area of around 63 square kilometers and plays a major role in conserving the endangered wolf species. The sanctuary is also part of the Palamau Tiger Reserve, adding to its ecological importance. Apart from wolves, it is home to other wildlife like spotted deer, wild boar, hyena, and bear, making it a rich biodiversity zone.

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Recently, delegates met in New York for the first session of the Preparatory Commission to frame rules for the High Seas Treaty and prepare for the first Conference of Parties (COP1). The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also called the High Seas Treaty, is a United Nations (UN) treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is the first treaty aimed at protecting ocean areas beyond national borders and is often called the Paris Agreement for the Ocean. It legally binds countries to protect marine biodiversity and promote sustainable use through international cooperation. The treaty will help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and will become effective 120 days after 60 countries ratify it.

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April 27th is celebrated as International Hyena Day to encourage people to change their negative views about hyenas and recognize their importance to the environment. Conservation group Wild Africa has warned that the four living species of hyenas are facing rising threats, leading to declining populations. Hyenas are dog-like carnivores belonging to the family Hyaenidae, and they are native to Asia and Africa. The four existing species are the Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Brown Hyena (Parahyaena brunnea), and Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus). Hyenas live in forest edges, grasslands, savannas, sub-deserts, and mountains up to 13,000 feet high. Their distribution spans across Africa, parts of the Middle East, and Asia.

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A recent breakthrough came as an international team of scientists successfully mapped the genome of the Saola using tissue fragments from hunter-collected remains. The Saola, scientifically named Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is one of the rarest land mammals and is nicknamed the “Asian Unicorn” because of its secretive nature. It was first discovered in 1992 during a joint survey by the Vietnamese Ministry of Forestry and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with only about 50 to 300 individuals estimated as of 2015. The Saola lives in the evergreen forests of the Annamite Mountains along the Vietnam–Laos border, a region rich in biodiversity and rainfall.

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Public trespassing in the ecologically sensitive Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) in Khanapur taluk has raised major concerns among conservationists recently. Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats in the Belgaum district of Karnataka. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in December 2011 to protect its rich biodiversity. The sanctuary is named after the historic Bhimgad Fort, built by Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century to defend against Portuguese forces. It borders Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, Mollem National Park, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.