Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Two youths from Rajasthan recently drowned in the Bhadra River. The Bhadra River flows in Karnataka and originates in the Western Ghats. It flows east across the Deccan Plateau and has tributaries like Somavahini, Thadabehalla, and Odirayanahalla. It passes through the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. The Bhadra meets the Tunga River at Koodli near Shivamogga, forming the Tungabhadra River. The Tungabhadra joins the Krishna River at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh.

Notes:
The Supreme Court has ordered the Rajasthan government to demolish the illegal Seven Wonders Park near Ana Sagar Lake within six months due to environmental concerns and wetland law violations. Ana Sagar Lake is located in Ajmer, Rajasthan, and was constructed between 1135-1150 AD by King Arnoraja. The lake has historical significance, with Mughal emperor Jahangir’s Daulat Bagh garden and Shah Jahan’s five marble pavilions nearby. The lake is not yet designated as a Ramsar site.

Notes:
The Supreme Court criticized the Uttarakhand government for slow action against senior officers accused of illegal constructions in Corbett Tiger Reserve. Corbett Tiger Reserve is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand. It was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park and renamed Corbett National Park in 1957 to honor Jim Corbett. The total area of the reserve is 1,288.31 sq. km, with undulating terrain and several valleys. Rivers Ramganga, Pallaen, and Sonanadi flow through it. The reserve lies in the Bhabar and lower Shivalik regions with a deep-water table and porous terrain.

Notes:
Karnataka Forest Department will ‘soft release’ captured elephants into Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary to reduce human-elephant conflicts in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts of Karnataka. It is named after the Bhadra River, which flows through the sanctuary. Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1951 and became a Project Tiger Reserve in 1998. It was the first tiger reserve in India to complete a village relocation program by 2002.

Notes:
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary hosted the first-ever ‘Indian Bison Fest’ to raise awareness about conservation. The sanctuary is located in Bargarh district, Odisha, near the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River. It has historical significance as freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai used ‘Barapathara’ within the sanctuary as his base during his rebellion against the British. Debrigarh was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985. The event highlighted the ecological importance of the Indian Bison and the need for its protection.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh government has announced a dolphin safari in Varanasi to boost conservation and eco-tourism. The safari will be set up between Kaithi and Dhakhwa villages, home to the highest number of dolphins in the region. Dolphin Mitras have been appointed for Ganges River Dolphin conservation. The goals include increasing dolphin populations, protecting their habitat, promoting eco-tourism, and educating people on dolphin conservation.

Notes:
Delhi’s forest and wildlife department will install 45 motion-based camera traps in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary to monitor and collect data on wildlife. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is in the South Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli hill range, on the Delhi-Haryana border. It forms part of the Southern Ridge and connects with the Indo-Gangetic Plain, making it rich in biodiversity. The sanctuary is a key segment of the North Aravalli Leopard Wildlife Corridor, which begins at Sariska National Park in Rajasthan, passes through Haryana districts, and reaches the Delhi Ridge.

Notes:
The Small Hive Beetle (SHB), a non-native or alien species, was recorded for the first time in India in West Bengal. SHB, or Aethina tumida, is originally native to Sub-Saharan Africa and usually causes minimal damage there. However, outside Africa, SHB can be very harmful to bee colonies and honey production. It is an oval-shaped, reddish-brown beetle, around 5–7 millimetres long, and goes through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Female beetles enter beehives through small openings to lay eggs, and the larvae feed on pollen, honey, and bee eggs while spoiling honey with waste.

Notes:
A degraded area called the Polo Ground inside Guindy National Park is being restored to support wildlife, especially blackbucks. Guindy National Park is a rare protected urban area located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is home to spotted deer and blackbucks, which rely on open grasslands to survive. Restoration work includes removing invasives, planting seven native grass species, and adding legume plants to improve soil health.

Notes:
The first No Objection Certificate (NOC) has been issued through the new Digital Portal for National Waterways to develop a jetty at Malim on River Mandovi. Mandovi River, also called Mahadayi or Mhadei, is known as the lifeline of Goa. It merges with the Zuari River and both flow into the Arabian Sea, forming the Mormugao harbour. The river starts from around 30 springs at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats, located in Belagavi district, Karnataka. Famous waterfalls on the river include Dudhsagar and Varapoha, and an important tributary is the River Mapusa.