Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Scientists have discovered a new owlfly species in Kerala after 134 years, named Protidricerus albocapitatus, marking a major entomological finding. It was found in the Nedumkayam forest in the Malappuram district of Kerala. The species belongs to the family Myrmeleontidae and the order Neuroptera. With this discovery, Kerala now has five known owlfly species, and India’s total has increased to 37 species. The owlfly has a white tufted head and clubbed antennae, making it easily identifiable.

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Recently, poachers killed two bison in the Chilfi East Range of the Bhoramdev Sanctuary in Kawardha, Chhattisgarh, raising serious concern for wildlife protection. Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary, also called Bhoramdeo Wildlife Sanctuary, is located in Kawardha district of Chhattisgarh. It was notified as a sanctuary in 2001. It lies in the Maikal range of the Satpura hills, known for its rich and unique ecosystem. It forms part of the Kanha–Achanakmar Corridor linking Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh with Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh

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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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A Rainbow Water Snake (Enhydris enhydris) was photographed for the first time in Uttar Pradesh in the buffer of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR), proving the area’s rich ecology. The 35 cm snake was slightly inactive due to ecdysis (skin shedding) and was safely released after minimal handling and measurement. The sighting highlights Terai ecosystem diversity; six new species have been reported from Uttar Pradesh in the past two years. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is located on the Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur-Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh.

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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.

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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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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.

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Rare migratory Pallas’s Gull (Great Black-headed Gull) was spotted again in Udhwa Bird Sanctuary, Jharkhand after nearly 10 years. It is the world’s largest black-headed gull and the third-largest gull species globally. It breeds in marshes and islands from southern Russia to Mongolia. It migrates in winter to the Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and India. It prefers wetlands, salt lakes, lagoons, and slow-flowing rivers as its habitat. It is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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Forest authorities in Chhattisgarh recently arrested 53 people for attempting to encroach on protected forest land within the Udanti–Sitanadi Tiger Reserve. The Udanti–Sitanadi Tiger Reserve is located in Chhattisgarh and forms a key wildlife conservation zone in central India. The reserve was established by merging two existing protected areas — the Sitanadi and Udanti Wildlife Sanctuaries. The reserve’s drainage network is dominated by the Mahanadi River, which acts as the main river system.

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Soil tests in Kuttanad paddy fields in Kerala showed increased aluminium concentration affecting rice cultivation. Kuttanad Wetland Agricultural System is unique as it supports rice farming below sea level. It is the only such below-sea-level rice cultivation system in India. The system consists of wetlands used for paddy farming and fish catching. This integrated system links agriculture, fisheries, and water management. The Kuttanad Below Sea-Level Farming System is recognised under Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).