Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, wildlife officials reported a sharp decline in the blackbuck population in Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary. Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is a native antelope species found in India and Nepal. It is commonly seen in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and other parts of peninsular India. It is the state animal of Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh. Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Punjab and is unique as it lies entirely on private or community-owned land of 13 Bishnoi villages.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Recently, a team of birders recorded India’s first confirmed sighting in 46 years of the Long-billed Bush Warbler in Suru Valley, Ladakh. The Long-billed Bush Warbler is scientifically known as Locustella major. It is a medium-sized songbird with a long tail and long bill, measuring about 15–17 cm. It is found in Central Asian mountains, including parts of India, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Its habitat includes grassy slopes, upland terraced fields, and forest edges at altitudes of 2400–3600 metres. It is listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
Recently, the Barbados threadsnake, world’s smallest-known snake, was rediscovered in Barbados after nearly 20 years. It belongs to species Tetracheilostoma carlae, named by scientist S. Blair Hedges in 2008. It has pale yellow dorsal lines and eyes on the side of its head. It is blind, burrows underground, feeds on termites and ants, and lays one slender egg. It is Critically Endangered as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
Recently, at Ramsar COP15 held at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, India introduced a resolution on ‘Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands’. The resolution was adopted with support from 172 Ramsar Contracting Parties, 6 International Organisation Partners, and other observers. It highlights the importance of individual and societal choices in wetland conservation and promotes a pro-planet lifestyle. It urges countries to integrate lifestyle-based interventions into wetland policies, plans, and investments. The resolution calls for public-private collaboration, education at all levels, and awareness to promote wise use of wetlands.

Notes:
A tiny animal called the silver-backed chevrotain, or two-tone mouse deer, was rediscovered in a Vietnamese forest after being lost for nearly 30 years. It was captured on camera using trap cameras by scientists from Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC). The chevrotain is a rabbit-sized hoofed mammal with a russet head, silver-grey body, and white rear end. Mouse Deer live in dense tropical forests across South and Southeast Asia like India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Mouse Deer are mainly herbivores, feeding on fruits, leaves, and soft plants.

Notes:
Recently, the central government initiated steps to include the Pampa River under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). Pampa is the third longest river in Kerala after the Periyar River and Bharathappuzha River. It is called ‘Dakshina Bhageerathi’ or the Ganga of Kerala, with deep religious importance linked to Sabarimala temple. Pilgrims to Sabarimala take a holy dip in the Pampa before and after the trek.

Notes:
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police arrested a 49-year-old contractor in the multi-crore Mithi River desilting fraud. The scam caused losses of over ₹65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Mithi River is one of the four rivers flowing through Mumbai, Maharashtra. It originates from Vihar Lake overflow and also receives overflow from Powai Lake about 2 km downstream. The river flows 18 km before joining the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek. It passes through Powai, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kalina, Vakola, Bandra Kurla Complex, Dharavi and Mahim.

Notes:
Nepal has officially joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), an India-led global initiative to protect seven species of big cats. The IBCA is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of over 90 big cat range and non-range countries interested in conservation. Nepal joined by signing the Framework Agreement on August 24, 2025. Nepal’s landscape hosts snow leopard, tiger, and common leopard, strengthening global collaboration for big cat conservation. The alliance focuses on tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma conservation.

Notes:
Typhoon Kajiki killed at least three people and injured 10 others in Vietnam on 26 August 2025. The storm damaged nearly 7,000 homes, inundated 28,800 hectares of rice fields, and felled 18,000 trees. It brought down 331 electricity poles, causing widespread blackouts in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thai Nguyen, and Phu Tho provinces. Typhoon Kajiki is considered as powerful as Typhoon Yagi in 2024, which killed around 300 people and caused $3.3 billion in damages.