Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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India became the world’s first country to successfully artificially breed the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) with the birth of the third chick at Jaisalmer’s Desert National Park. The technology and training for artificial insemination were obtained from the Abu Dhabi-based “International Fund for Houbara Conservation” and specialized training from the Wildlife Institute of India. The GIB is protected under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.

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The Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) of Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) is set to expand by about 4,500 hectares, following a rationalisation exercise ordered by the Supreme Court of India’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC). CTHs, also known as core areas of tiger reserves, are designated under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) of 1972. Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is spread across the Aravalli mountain range, the world’s oldest mountain range, covering an area of 800 square kilometers.

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Scientists are closely watching the Axial Seamount as it is expected to erupt for the first time in ten years. Axial Seamount is an underwater shield volcano located about 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, United States, in the Pacific Ocean. It has a large caldera at its summit and rises to a depth of 1,400 meters below sea level. The volcano was formed by a hot spot, where molten material from Earth’s mantle rises into the crust. It lies on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, the tectonic boundary between the Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates. It features hydrothermal vents, which are underwater hot springs that release mineral-rich plumes heated by magma.

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Rajaji National Park has abundant reservoirs and water holes that help limit elephant movement into human-populated areas. The park is located in Uttarakhand, spanning three districts: Haridwar, Dehradun, and Pauri Garhwal. It lies along the hills and foothills of the Shiwalik ranges, representing the Shiwalik ecosystem. In 1983, Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary was merged with Motichur and Chilla sanctuaries to form Rajaji National Park. The park is named after the famous freedom fighter, Rajgopalachari, also known as “Rajaji.” Situated at the transition zone between the temperate western Himalaya and the central Himalaya, it boasts rich species diversity.

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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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Recently, researchers discovered a new plant species named Pedicularis rajeshiana in the high-altitude region of Rohtang Pass in the western Himalayas. It belongs to a group of plants called “Louseworts,” which are hemiparasitic and take some nutrients from other plants while also doing photosynthesis. The plant has unique floral traits and a distinct pollen structure that sets it apart from other species. Compared to its close relatives Pedicularis porrecta and Pedicularis heydei, this new species is smaller in size with fewer flowers and leaflets.

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Experts from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, recently radio-collared three endangered fishing cats in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS). Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is located in Andhra Pradesh. This is the first time in India that fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) have been collared to study their home range, breeding, prey, and behaviour. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the Godavari estuary where the Coringa river meets the Bay of Bengal in Kakinada district.

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The Supreme Court recently ordered the Rajasthan government to immediately ban all mining activities in the core area of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is located in Sawai Madhopur district, southeastern Rajasthan. It is named after the Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the reserve. The reserve lies between the Vindhya and Aravalli hill ranges and was once a royal hunting ground of Jaipur’s Maharajas.

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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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A new flowering plant species named Portulaca bharat was recently discovered in the Aravali hills near Jaipur. It is endemic to India and currently known only from the Galtaji hills. Its limited distribution and specific habitat make it highly vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss. The plant has unique features like opposite and slightly concave leaves, pale-yellow flowers that turn creamish-white at the tip, thick roots, and glandular hairs on stamen filaments. This rare discovery highlights the ecological importance of the Aravali region.