Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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The Finn’s Weaver is silently disappearing from the marshy lowlands of the Terai region in India. Its scientific name is Ploceus megarhynchus and it is also called Finn’s baya or yellow weaver. It is named after Frank Finn, a British officer and bird expert. It is native to the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys in India and Nepal. It lives near dams, reservoirs, marshy soil, tall grass, semal and shisham trees. It builds nests on tall grass and trees and feeds mainly on seeds and insects. Its status is Vulnerable as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

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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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A first-of-its-kind study in eastern India tracked a bar-headed goose using a GSM–GPS transmitter, revealing its migration route and flight pattern. The bar-headed goose is a migratory bird known as one of the highest-flying birds in the world. It can fly at altitudes of up to 25,000 feet while crossing the Himalayas, surviving extremely low oxygen levels and freezing temperatures. The species is native to Central Asia, where it breeds, and is found across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Japan, and nearby regions. In India, its distribution extends from the northeastern region to southern parts of the country. It prefers high-altitude lakes during breeding and freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams during wintering.

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Scientists have expressed concern that Cyclone Senyar may have swept away a significant number of Tapanuli orangutans, raising fears about further population decline of one of the world’s rarest great apes. The Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) is a distinct species of orangutan endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is one of only three known orangutan species, the others being the Sumatran orangutan and the Bornean orangutan. The species is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, making it extremely vulnerable to natural disasters such as cyclones.

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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.

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Karnataka has requested the Central Water Commission (CWC) to intervene, alleging excess and unauthorised use of Bhima River water by Maharashtra, violating agreed allocations. Bhima River is a major perennial river in western and southern India and a key tributary of the Krishna River. Locally, it is also called the Chandrabhaga River, especially near Pandharpur. The river originates near Bhimashankar hills in the Western Ghats (Sahyadris), close to the Bhimashankar Temple in Pune district, Maharashtra.

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A viral video of a Himalayan red fox near Pangong Tso in Ladakh has drawn attention, while wildlife officials warned against human interference. The Himalayan red fox is a subspecies of the red fox with the scientific name Vulpes vulpes montana. It is native to the Himalayan region across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. In India, it is found in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. It lives at high altitudes between 2,500 and 5,000 metres in diverse habitats. Its conservation status under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List is Least Concern.

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Seven rare galaxy frogs (Melanobatrachus indicus) in Kerala’s Western Ghats have disappeared and are presumed dead after disturbance by wildlife photographers. Photographers overturned logs, trampled vegetation, handled frogs barehanded, and used strong camera flashes. They are endemic to the southern Western Ghats mountain range in India, specifically found in small patches of wet evergreen forests in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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Recently, an Eastern Imperial Eagle was confirmed visiting Mudumalai Tiger Reserve during the winter migratory season. The scientific name of the Eastern Imperial Eagle is Aquila heliaca. The species breeds in southeastern Europe and across West and Central Asia, with most populations migrating to northeastern Africa, the Middle East, and South and East Asia during winter. It is the second largest eagle in Europe, reaching about 0.92 meters in length, a wingspan of approximately 2.14 meters, and a weight of around 3.6 kilograms. According to the IUCN Red List, the Eastern Imperial Eagle is classified as Vulnerable.

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Ladakh’s double-humped Bactrian camels will debut at the 77th Republic Day parade, highlighting their unique heritage. Scientifically known as Camelus bactrianus, they are large even-toed ungulates called Ladakh’s “silent warriors”. They are native to Central Asia, ranging from Afghanistan to China, mainly in the Mongolian steppes and Gobi Desert. In India, small populations survive in the high-altitude cold desert of Nubra Valley, Ladakh. They are mainly herbivores and are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).