Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The spotted deer population is declining rapidly in the Konark-Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha. The sanctuary is located in Puri district, Odisha and was declared on 23 April 1984. It covers a sandy coastal tract between Puri and Konark, planted with casuarina and cashew trees. Spotted deer is the most common deer species in Indian forests. It is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
Foresters at Kali Tiger Reserve in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, recently recorded the rare sighting of a striped hyena, locally known as katte kiruba. Kali Tiger Reserve is located in the biologically rich Western Ghats. The reserve comprises the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park. These two protected areas are contiguous, forming a single continuous habitat. The Kali River flows through the reserve and serves as the main water source for Uttara Kannada district. The reserve is named after the Kali River.

Notes:
The Bombay High Court has formed a high-powered committee to protect and preserve Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) from encroachments. The committee is led by a former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court (HC). SGNP is a protected forest and national park located in Maharashtra. It is one of the few national parks located inside a metropolitan city in the world. The park acts as a crucial ecological buffer for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Notes:
A photographer in Spain recently spotted the world’s first-ever white Iberian lynx, a rare sighting. The Iberian lynx is a carnivorous species endemic to Europe. It is one of the world’s most endangered wild cats, recognized by its pointy ears, long legs, and spotted fur. It is nocturnal, mainly hunting rabbits, its primary prey. It is found only in southwest Spain on the Iberian Peninsula, west of the Pyrenees.

Notes:
Government will set up National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands at a cost of ₹120 crore. It will be the nodal and monitoring agency for coral reef research across India. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is responsible for establishing the National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI). NCRRI will focus on coral reef research, conservation, and management. Coral reefs protect coasts from storms and strong waves, saving lives and property. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) museum will introduce QR code-based digital access to species information.

Notes:
Bioremediation means “restoring life through biology” using microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants to clean polluted land and water. These organisms break oil, pesticides, plastics, and heavy metals into safer products like water and carbon dioxide. In situ bioremediation treats pollution at the site, while Ex situ bioremediation treats removed soil or water in a facility. India needs it due to severe river, soil, and industrial pollution and the high cost of traditional cleanup methods. It is cheap, eco-friendly, job-creating, but needs strict safety rules for genetically modified (GM) microbes.

Notes:
A new spider species named Dolomedes indicus was discovered in the evergreen rainforests of Western Ghats in Wayanad district, Kerala. It is the first recorded species of the Dolomedes genus, also called raft or fishing spiders, found in India. Unlike house spiders, it is an active semi-aquatic hunter that hunts on water surfaces. It senses vibrations using water surface tension and quickly jumps to catch insects or small fish. It can swim and dive in water.

Notes:
A tigress will be airlifted from Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) to Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR), Rajasthan, marking the state’s first inter-state tiger translocation. Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) is located in Bundi district, Rajasthan. It acts as a wildlife corridor between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve. Mez River, a tributary of Chambal River, flows through the reserve.

Notes:
The western tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) is one of India’s rarest pheasants and the state bird of Himachal Pradesh, now surviving in small, fragmented pockets in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. IUCN estimates 3,000-9,500 mature tragopans remain, all in a single subpopulation, with a quarter in western Himalayas and northern Pakistan. Sarahan Pheasantry initiated the world’s first successful captive breeding programme in 2005; 43 captive-born birds recorded between 2007-2015. Captive breeding complements but cannot replace habitat protection, which is essential for species survival.

Notes:
India’s resolution on “Strengthening the Global Management of Wildfires” was adopted at the 7th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya. The resolution received wide support from UN Member States, emphasizing global recognition of wildfire threats. India highlighted that wildfires are a pressing global environmental challenge, increasing in number, scale, and intensity beyond seasonal patterns. The resolution aims to enhance international cooperation and coordinated action for wildfire management. India referenced UNEP’s report “Spreading Like Wildfire”, warning wildfires could rise by 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050, and 50% by 2100 if trends continue.