Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A new fish species named Pseudorhombus bahudaensis was recently discovered by researchers from the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India. It was found in the Bahuda estuary located in Odisha. This species belongs to the flounder fish group under the order Pleuronectiformes. It closely resembles Pseudorhombus arsius, also known as the Gangetic largetooth flounder. They usually live in inshore waters up to 50 metres deep and can move between saltwater and freshwater environments.

Notes:
Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister announced development of a nature trail and angling spot in Kamlang Tiger Reserve to promote tourism and empower local communities. Kamlang Tiger Reserve is located in the southeastern part of Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh. It is part of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hot Spot. The reserve is named after the Kamlang River, which flows into the Brahmaputra River. It is bordered by Namdapha National Park in the south, Lang River in the north, Lati River in the west, and Tawe River in the east.

Notes:
The forest department’s relocation drive at Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) in Khanapur taluk has faced hurdles as Amagaon villagers set conditions before moving. Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Belgaum district of Karnataka. It is named after Bhimgad Fort, built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century to guard against Portuguese expansion from Goa. The forest mainly has tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf vegetation.

Notes:
A forest department team recently arrested four people for illegally cutting khair trees in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh. Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh. It stretches along the northern banks of the River Ganga and covers parts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor districts. It lies near the ancient town of Hastinapur, known for its cultural and mythological significance.

Notes:
Seven countries have received $5.8 million from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund to promote nature-friendly agriculture. The seven countries are Cook Islands, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Uganda. It is a Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) launched in 2021 during Part 1 of COP 15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It aims to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) at all governance levels.

Notes:
A new species of jumping spider named Pilia malenadu was recently discovered in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It was found in Madhugundi, located in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. The species belongs to the Pilia genus of jumping spiders. It was named “Pilia malenadu” to honour the region where it was discovered. This is a historic find as the last Pilia species was recorded 123 years ago in 1902 in Kerala. For the first time, researchers found both male and female spiders of this genus.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Recently, a rare Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) was sighted in the Kali Tiger Reserve, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. It belongs to the Hyaenidae family, which includes Striped, Spotted, and Brown hyenas, and the Aardwolf. The Striped Hyena is smaller than the Spotted Hyena and has black stripes across its body. It is found in South Asia, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Western and Central Asia. It lives in open savannas, grasslands, and scrub woodlands of arid regions. It is mainly a scavenger feeding on carrion and human waste. It is listed as “Near Threatened” by IUCN.

Notes:
A flock of rare White Ibis, also known as Black-headed Ibis, was recently sighted in the salt pan regions of Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. The Black-headed Ibis, also called the Oriental White Ibis or Indian White Ibis, belongs to the ibis family Threskiornithidae. It is a wader bird adapted to various aquatic environments. It is found across South and Southeast Asia, from India to Japan. It is listed as “Least Concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district of Assam is recording an early arrival of migratory birds with winter beginning. Birds are coming from Europe America and the Tibetan region attracting wildlife lovers. Pobitora is located in the eastern region of Guwahati, Assam, and lies near Mayong village known as the Black Magic capital of India. The sanctuary was established in 1998 and covers 48.81 sq km area. It includes Rajamayong Reserve Forest and Pobitora Reserve Forest. The region was once part of the Brahmaputra River floodplains and is known for rich flora and fauna