Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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A proposed ₹23.7 crore ecotourism project in Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghalaya, has recently faced strong opposition from local groups and environmental activists. Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya and lies within the Eastern Himalayan Global Biodiversity Hotspot. The sanctuary’s landscape includes undulating plains, low hills, and rugged terrain shaped by the Umtrew River and its tributaries like Umran, Umling, and Umtasor. Umtrew River forms the western boundary of the sanctuary. It is home to over 400 bird species including the endangered Rufous-necked Hornbill, and mammals like the Clouded Leopard, Elephant, and Himalayan Black Bear.

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Recently, over 20 people died in the southern United States due to severe storms and tornado outbreaks in Missouri and Kentucky. A tornado is a vertical column of violently rotating air that stretches from a thunderstorm to the ground. It usually appears as a funnel-shaped cloud, but in dry conditions, it may only be seen as swirling dust or debris. If this rotating column forms over water, it is called a waterspout. Tornadoes have wind speeds ranging from 105 to 322 kilometres per hour (km/h), but some can be even stronger. They can move rapidly, often at about 97 km/h, making them extremely dangerous.

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Researchers from Justus Liebig University Giessen (Germany), New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, Kakapo Recovery, and University of Otago have successfully used artificial insemination (AI) to breed the critically endangered Kakapo. The Kakapo is the world’s largest flightless parrot, native to New Zealand. It is nocturnal, herbivorous, and the only lek-breeding parrot, where males display together to attract females. Kakapo breed only in years when native fruits like rimu berries are plentiful. Threats include predation by invasive mammals, infertility, high embryo death, and diseases like aspergillosis. Due to these threats, it is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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Scientists recently discovered a new species of damselfly called Caliphaea sinuofurcata in Arunachal Pradesh. It was found during biodiversity surveys in the Upper Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts. The species is proposed to be named the “Bearded Bronzeback” due to its unique appearance. This is only the second species of the genus Caliphaea ever recorded in India. The first species, Caliphaea confusa, was documented more than 165 years ago. The genus Caliphaea is usually found in Southeast Asia and China, making this a significant discovery for Indian biodiversity.

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A new genus and species of eusauropod dinosaur named Jinchuanloong niedu was recently discovered from a fossilized partial skeleton with a nearly complete skull in Gansu province, China. Jinchuanloong niedu is an early member of Eusauropoda, a group of long-necked, herbivorous, four-legged dinosaurs. Its fossil was found in the lower Xinhe Formation near Jinchang city, dating back to the Middle Jurassic period, about 165 million years ago. Sauropods are known for their large size, long necks and tails, four legs, and plant-based diet. They were the largest land animals ever and lived from the Early Jurassic to Late Cretaceous worldwide. After a global warming event in the late Early Jurassic, eusauropods became the only surviving sauropod lineage.

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A new species of planarian worm named Dugesia punensis was recently discovered in Pashan Lake, Pune, Maharashtra. Planarians are aquatic flatworms known for their amazing ability to regenerate lost body parts. This species was found in a wetland within the Western Ghats, which is a biodiversity hotspot. The discovery marks the first time since 1983 that a new planarian species has been identified in India. Dugesia punensis adds to the understanding of India’s freshwater biodiversity and highlights the ecological importance of urban wetlands like Pashan Lake.

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Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir Government formed a Divisional Level Committee to monitor the Eco-Sensitive Zone around the Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is located in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and is named after the twin lakes Surinsar and Mansar. It spreads across Jammu, Udhampur, and Samba districts, with most of it lying in Jammu district.

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Recently, AviList, the world’s first unified global checklist of bird species, was launched to support effective bird conservation. It replaces the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and Clements lists and will be updated every year. AviList offers the most updated and reliable classification of global bird species. It is a result of global collaboration involving BirdLife International, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the American Ornithologists Society, the International Ornithologists’ Union, and Avibase. The list includes 11,131 bird species, 19,879 subspecies, 2,376 genera, 252 families, and 46 orders.

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Conservation activists have raised concerns about promoting tourism through wildlife safari in the Kali Tiger Reserve due to its ecological sensitivity. Kali Tiger Reserve, formerly known as Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve, is located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. The reserve borders Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka and connects to Radhanagari and Koyna sanctuaries in Maharashtra. The Kali River flows through the reserve and is a vital water source for the region.

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Recently, Kerala’s Western Ghats became home to India’s first butterfly sanctuary after the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur was renamed as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary on 18 June 2025 by the Kerala State Wildlife Board. The sanctuary covers 55 square kilometers of tropical and semi-evergreen forests and hosts over 266 species of butterflies, more than 80% of all species in Kerala. Some butterfly species found here are unique or endangered, and between October and February, the sanctuary sees a vibrant butterfly migration, especially of the Common Albatross.