Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Pampadum Shola National Park in Kerala’s Southern Western Ghats is witnessing a major ecological revival. The park is successfully removing invasive Australian wattle trees and restoring its native grasslands, streams, and species. It is the smallest national park in Kerala. The park forms the southernmost shola–grassland mosaic in the Western Ghats, older than the Himalayas

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A rare Indian Mouse Deer was recently spotted at Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Vasai, Maharashtra. The Indian Mouse Deer, also called the Indian Spotted Chevrotain, is a small even-toed ungulate of the family Tragulidae. Its scientific name is Moschiola indica. It is the smallest deer species in India and is very shy and elusive. It is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. Sri Lanka hosts a separate species called Moschiola meminna. In India, it lives in forests of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats up to Odisha, and Central India.

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Recently, Chilean scientists warned about further risks to the world’s shrinking Humboldt penguin population. Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) belongs to the ‘banded’ genus. They are named after the Humboldt Current, a cold oceanic upwelling near their habitat. Humboldt penguins are endemic to the Pacific coasts of Chile and Peru. Chile’s Pacific coast hosts 80 percent of the remaining population. It is listed as Vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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Four women and three children were recently rescued after being trapped for nearly two hours in the Painganga River near Sahastrakund waterfall. The Painganga River, also called Penganga River, is the main river of Yavatmal district, Maharashtra. It is a major tributary of the Wardha River. The river originates in the Ajanta ranges, Aurangabad district and flows through Buldhana, Washim, and along the Washim-Hingoli border. It forms the boundary between Yavatmal and Nanded districts and flows along the Maharashtra-Telangana border.

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Recently, researchers began studying the rare cooperation between wild dolphins and traditional fishers in Ashtamudi Lake. Ashtamudi Lake is a freshwater lake in Kollam district, Kerala, and is the second largest lake after Vembanad Lake. Its name means Eight Braids in Malayalam, reflecting its palm-shaped branching. It is fed by the Kallada River and drains into the Arabian Sea. The region is also famous for its traditional coir industry. The lake supports rich biodiversity with 57 bird species, 97 fish species, and many endangered animals like pearl spot fish, mangrove crab, otter, and kingfisher.

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Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was found non-compliant in stopping untreated sewage from entering Powai Lake. National Green Tribunal (NGT) committee recommended a fine of Rs 5 lakh per month per inlet if the action plan is violated. Powai Lake is an artificial lake in northern Mumbai, Maharashtra. It lies near Western Ghats and has a catchment area of 6.6 square kilometres.

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Telangana’s Mulugu forest officials are launching safari services for the first time inside Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary to promote eco-tourism and sustainable livelihoods. Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Telangana. The sanctuary was established in 1952 and covers an area of approximately 812 square kilometres. It is divided into two parts by a stream known as Dayyam Vagu. The Godavari River flows through the sanctuary, supporting rich biodiversity.

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Chhattisgarh’s Kopra Reservoir in Bilaspur district has been designated a Ramsar Site, becoming the state’s first wetland of international importance. Ramsar Sites are wetlands recognised under the Ramsar Convention, headquartered in Gland, Switzerland. The reservoir has both natural and man-made features and supports irrigation, water security, and diverse bird habitats. The proposal was submitted by the state government last month and approved by the Union government. The recognition will boost eco-tourism, local livelihoods, and awareness about wetland conservation.

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Following the arrest of a passenger at Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru) for smuggling two red-shanked douc monkeys, attention has been drawn to the illegal wildlife trade involving critically endangered primates. The red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) is an Old World monkey often described as the “Queen of primates” due to its striking appearance. The species is mainly distributed across Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, southern Laos, and Cambodia. The IUCN Red List classifies the red-shanked douc as Critically Endangered, indicating an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

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Tamil Nadu launched a conservation initiative to protect the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in the Cauvery River delta due to habitat loss and rising human–wildlife conflict. The programme will estimate population, map habitats, study threats like pollution, dams and pesticides, and restore habitats through reeds planting and fish ladders. Otters live in bevvies of 4–12, communicate with whistles and chirps, and control freshwater ecosystems by feeding on fish. Their numbers fell due to dams, contaminated water, plastic pollution, and loss of prey. It is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and protected under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.