Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The European Red Admiral butterfly, scientifically called Vanessa atalanta, has been recorded for the first time in India near Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. This rare sighting was confirmed during a butterfly survey at Thatharna Hill in the Dhauladhar mountain range, at an altitude of 2,500 metres. The observation was verified by Himalayan butterfly expert Lovish Garlani from the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department. This raises the total number of butterfly species in Himachal Pradesh to 440, highlighting the region’s rich biodiversity. The species is known for long migrations across Europe and North America and was last seen in South Asia in 2022 in Pakistan after a 93-year gap. It has no confirmed records from China, Mongolia, or Afghanistan, making its presence in India a significant eastward range expansion.

Notes:
The Gujarat High Court recently upheld a demolition drive carried out by state authorities in Ahmedabad’s Chandola Lake area. Chandola Lake, located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is an artificial lake established by Tajn Khan Nari Ali, the wife of a Mughal Sultan. Covering an area of approximately 1,200 hectares, the lake serves as a key water source for nearby industrial and residential areas. It has a circular shape and is divided into two parts, Chota Chandola and Bada Chandola. The Kharicut Canal Scheme, one of Gujarat’s oldest irrigation schemes, was introduced to irrigate 1,200 acres of rice land near the lake. The lake is home to various bird species, including cormorants, painted storks, and spoonbills.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
A group of tourists in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, recently had a rare encounter with a snow leopard, often called the ‘ghost of the mountains’ due to its elusive nature. The snow leopard, scientifically known as Panthera uncia, is a medium-sized big cat found in the rugged mountains of Central and South Asia. Although it has a wide range of over 2 million square kilometres, only around 3,920 to 6,390 are estimated to remain in the wild. It lives between 1,800 to 5,500 metres in altitude and is found in 12 countries including India, China, Nepal, and Russia. In India, it is found in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. It is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, under Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 in India.

Notes:
Glaciologists and local communities recently mourned the loss of Nepal’s Yala Glacier, now believed to be the first glacier in Nepal to be declared “dead.” Yala Glacier is located in Langtang National Park in Nepal’s Himalayan region. It lies at an altitude of around 5,000 meters above sea level. It is a small plateau glacier, commonly used for training in glaciological studies and mountaineering. Since the 1970s, the glacier has shrunk by 66% and retreated by 784 meters. Scientists expect it to disappear completely by 2040 due to climate change and rising global temperatures.

Notes:
Recently, illegal sand mining in the Chambal River region has become a serious issue across states, harming biodiversity and putting officials and journalists at risk. It threatens conservation in the National Chambal Sanctuary, which protects rare species like the Gharial and the Ganges dolphin. The Chambal River originates from Bhadakla Falls near Janapav Hills in Indore district, Madhya Pradesh, at an elevation of 843 metres. It flows about 1,024 kilometres before joining the Yamuna River in Jalaun district, Uttar Pradesh. The river passes through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Major right-bank tributaries include Banas, Kali Sindh, Parbati, and Shipra.

Notes:
California’s Tulare Lake, which had dried up long ago, reemerged after a gap of 130 years due to powerful atmospheric rivers over the region. Tulare Lake is located in the San Joaquin Valley in California, United States of America. It was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. The lake disappeared over time mainly due to man-made irrigation systems. In 2023, heavy atmospheric rivers brought record rainfall to California. This rare weather event caused Tulare Lake to reemerge after 130 years. The Kern River, which is fed by snowmelt from the southern Sierra Nevada, helps refill the lake. The Tachi Yokut tribe traditionally depended on Tulare Lake for survival as the region receives very little rainfall.

Notes:
The Uttarakhand Forest Department’s latest report highlights the conservation of 2,228 plant species. It includes rare plants like the White Himalayan Lily and Tree Fern. The White Himalayan Lily (Lilium polyphyllum) is native to the Himalayas and has white or pink flowers with dark spots. It contains important chemicals like alkaloids and furocoumarins. Traditionally, it is used to treat conditions like excessive thirst, vomiting blood, bronchitis, and rheumatism. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified it as Critically Endangered.

Notes:
The Central Government recently declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Tral Wildlife Sanctuary in Jammu and Kashmir. Tral Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Pulwama District and plays a key role as a wildlife movement corridor. It is one of the rare places outside Dachigam National Park where the critically endangered Hangul deer is still found. The sanctuary has typical Himalayan moist temperate, sub-alpine, and alpine forest types.

Notes:
Recently, Calotes zolaiking, a rare garden lizard species, was recorded for the first time in Meghalaya. It was first described in 2019 from Aizawl district in Mizoram by a team of scientists. This lizard is about 5 inches long and has green shades with dark patches and sharp ridged scales called “strongly keeled” scales. Calotes belong to the Agamidae family and are arboreal, meaning they live in trees. India is home to 14 Calotes species, found in gardens and forests across India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and some Pacific islands.