21. Which country has the world’s largest elephant population?
[A] Botswana
[B] Zimbabwe
[C] Thailand
[D] Namibia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Botswana]
Notes:
Botswana, the landlocked country in South Africa has the largest elephant population in the world, around an estimate of 1,30,000.
The country was recently in news, more than 300 elephants have died mysteriously in the famous Okavango Delta of Botswana. As per the head of the wildlife department, the reason of deaths was not poaching, as their tusks were not damaged.
22. As per the research study in Nature Climate Change, which animal might become extinct due to climate change?
[A] Polar Bear
[B] Penguin
[C] Walrus
[D] Arctic Fox
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Polar Bear]
Notes:
As per the research study of the scientists, released in ‘Nature Climate Change’ scientific journal, Polar bears are pushed to extinction due to climate change.
The study estimates that the carnivorous animal could nearly disappear within the span of a human lifetime. In 12 out of the 13 subpopulations analysed, Polar bears are estimated to be destroyed within 80 years.
23. Mahseer fish, which has been spotted recently in Andhra Pradesh, was found in which river?
[A] Krishna
[B] Godavari
[C] Sileru
[D] Cauvery
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sileru]
Notes:
Rare fish called Mahseer, whose scientific name is Tor, has been spotted in the upper part of river Sileru in Andhra Pradesh.
It has been spotted by a team of researchers of the Department of Zoology, Andhra University. This fish is listed under the endangered category by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). It is usually found in the Himalayan region in the rivers running through Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nepal and Bhutan.
24. What species is ‘Systomus gracilus’, that has been identified in the Ganges?
[A] Fish
[B] Turtle
[C] Octopus
[D] Crocodile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Fish]
Notes:
A new species of freshwater fish named ‘Systomus gracilus’ has been identified in the Ganges river.
The researchers from Kerala and West Bengal have identified the edible fish species, at West Bengal. It has a thin and compressed body and can be cultured in inland waterbodies. The discovery of the fish has been published in the Journal of Experimental Zoology.
25. Which national park in India has added 3053 hectares into its ambit?
[A] Kaziranga National Park
[B] Ranthambore National Park
[C] Silent Velley National Park
[D] Gir National Park
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kaziranga National Park]
Notes:
The Kaziranga National Park in Assam, which is home to the Asiatic one-horned rhinos, is to be expanded by 3,053 hectares.
The Government of Assam has issued a notification approving 7th, 8th and 9th addition to the National Park. These additional areas include encroachment-evicted areas at riverine islands that were vulnerable to encroachment.
26. Panna Biosphere Reserve, which is seen in news recently, is located in which state?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Karnataka
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The Panna Biosphere Reserve that is located in Madhya Pradesh, has been included in the UNESCO’s “World Network of Biosphere Reserves”. Additionally, Fuvahmulah and Addu Atoll of Maldives have also been included in the list.
Panna is a critical tiger habitat in India and it was accorded Biosphere Reserve status by Government of India in 2011.
27. Which country launched ‘Vulture Action Plan 2020-25’, to actively increase the number of vultures?
[A] Australia
[B] China
[C] India
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [India]
Notes:
Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has recently launched a Vulture Action Plan 2020-25.
As the number of vultures has seen a steep decline in India, this project aims for the conservation and active increase in the number of vultures in the country. There are nine recorded species of vultures in India and four of them are in critically endangered state.
28. Which state has implemented a PPP model for rescue and rehabilitation of leopards?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Haryana
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Gujarat]
Notes:
As many as 12 leopards from Sakkar Baug Zoological Park, which came in conflict with the humans, have been transferred to a private rehabilitation centre by Gujarat Forest Department.
The leopard’s maintenance would be done in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode by the Government of Gujarat and Reliance Industries Ltd- RIL’s Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom. This is the first of its kind PPP model for protection of wild animals in India.
29. As per the IUCN’s latest report on World Heritage, which region of India is of great concern?
[A] Sundarbans
[B] Indo Gangetic plain
[C] Western Ghats
[D] North Eastern Hills
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Western Ghats]
Notes:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the IUCN World Heritage Outlook 3.
It uses the data of the previous reports from 2014 and 2017 to track whether the conservation efforts of the world’s 252 natural world heritage sites are on track. The report revealed that the conservation outlook of mountain chain of the Western Ghats is of great concern.
30. A new species of Indian Muraina grasses has been spotted in which state?
[A] Goa
[B] Assam
[C] West Bengal
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Goa]
Notes:
Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, has recently spotted a new species of Murainagrass.
Ischaemum is a genus of grass, widespread in tropical and semitropical regions. It is commonly called as Murainagrass. A new and tolerant species has been spotted in Goa in the Western Ghats. It was named Ischaemum janarthanamiiin honour of Goa University’s Botany Professor M. K. Janarthanam.
