Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Australian scientists discovered a larger, more venomous Sydney funnel-web spider species, named Atrax christenseni. The new species, called “Big Boy,” is 9 cm (3.54 inches) long and was first found in the early 2000s near Newcastle. It is dark brown to black with finger-like spinnerets at the abdomen’s end. Its venom glands are bigger, and its fangs are longer. Only male funnel-web spiders cause human deaths due to their stronger venom. Found in bushy suburban areas, forests, and shady gullies. Funnel-web spiders are among the most dangerous, with venom containing 40 toxic proteins.

Notes:
The “One Plate, One Bag” campaign was launched at the Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj, to promote a plastic-free event. Cloth bags and steel plates and glasses are being distributed to replace plastic and disposable items. Around 70,000 cloth bags have been distributed from six centers so far. More than 2 million steel plates and glasses collected nationwide are being supplied to langars and food outlets. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath urged pilgrims to adopt eco-friendly practices and avoid single-use plastic during the pilgrimage.

Notes:
The Forest Department is urging residents of Sheribikanahalli Tanda, in the Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary, to relocate due to the area’s ecological sensitivity. Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kalburgi District, North Karnataka, and spans 134.88 sq.km. It was declared a sanctuary in 2011. It is the first dry land wildlife sanctuary in South India and is also referred to as the Ooty of Telangana. The sanctuary is home to the Chandrampalli dam and four smaller dams. It also shelters the Lambani Tandas, a protected tribal community living in the forest.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Uttar Pradesh government to explain the delay in notifying the Dhanauri water body as a wetland. The Uttar Pradesh government must submit a status report in four weeks. Dhanauri Wetland is located in Dhanauri village, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, and is a bird-watching area. It is home to 217 bird species, with up to 50,000 waterfowl during migratory seasons (Nov-Mar). The wetland hosts around 150 Sarus Cranes, Uttar Pradesh’s state bird. It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International and documented by BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society).

Notes:
India is deploying its first human-operated underwater submersible under the Deep Ocean Mission. Initially operating at 500 meters, it will later reach depths of 6,000 meters. It aims to explore underwater resources, identify critical minerals, rare metals, and marine biodiversity, and enhance the blue economy. The Deep Ocean Mission, launched on September 7, 2021, by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is a Central Sector Scheme.

Notes:
Scientists discovered a new species of ‘supergiant’ sea bug in Vietnam, named Bathynomus vaderi, due to its resemblance to Darth Vader’s helmet. This species can grow up to 32.5 cm and weigh over a kilogram, making it one of the largest isopods. These sea bugs have become a delicacy in Vietnam, raising concerns about overfishing due to their slow reproduction rate.

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The corpse flower bloomed in Sydney, Australia for the first time in over a decade. It is known for its infamous rotting smell when in bloom. The plant is found in the wild in Indonesia, where it is called “bunga bangkai.” It has the largest flowering structure of any plant in the world, reaching up to 3 meters in height. The corpse flower typically blooms once every few years, and its bloom lasts only about a day. The plant is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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The white-naped tit was recently documented in Kappatagudda hills, North Karnataka, for the first time. It is also known as the pied tit or white-winged tit. Its scientific name is Machlolophus nuchalis. The bird is endemic to India, with populations in Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. It inhabits dry thorn scrub forests. The white-naped tit is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

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Mount Taranaki in New Zealand was granted legal personhood, becoming the second natural feature to receive this status. The mountain’s legal identity, Te Kāhui Tupua, includes Taranaki and surrounding land. The recognition acknowledges the historical theft of land from the Māori people after colonization. A newly created entity, with members from Māori tribes and the Conservation Minister, will represent the mountain. This law aims to protect the mountain’s health, cultural significance, and traditional practices. New Zealand previously granted personhood to Te Urewera and the Whanganui River.

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) restrained the Andhra Pradesh Government from proceeding with six infrastructure projects in Kolleru wetland. Kolleru Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake in northeastern Andhra Pradesh. It lies between the Krishna and Godavari deltas near Eluru. It is Asia’s largest shallow freshwater lake, covering 308 sq. km. It acts as a flood-balancing reservoir and drains into the Bay of Bengal via the Upputeru River. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1999 and a Ramsar Site in 2002. It is an Important Bird Area (IBA) on the Central Asian Flyway, hosting species like Siberian cranes, pelicans, and painted storks.