Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Uttar Pradesh government has announced a dolphin safari in Varanasi to boost conservation and eco-tourism. The safari will be set up between Kaithi and Dhakhwa villages, home to the highest number of dolphins in the region. Dolphin Mitras have been appointed for Ganges River Dolphin conservation. The goals include increasing dolphin populations, protecting their habitat, promoting eco-tourism, and educating people on dolphin conservation.

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The gates of Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, have been opened for tourists. The park is located along the upper catchment of the Bhagirathi River. Its northeastern section forms the international boundary between India and Tibet (China). It shares borders with Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Govind National Park. The park covers 2,390 sq km of mountainous terrain in the Garhwal Himalayas. Major peaks include Chaukhamba I, Satopanth, Chaukhamba II, Chaukhamba III, and Kedarnath Main. The park houses the Gangotri Glacier, one of the primary sources of the Ganges River.

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The Odisha government’s proposal to construct a dam at Pipalapanka in Ganjam district has sparked protests from environmentalists and local communities. The project is criticized for prioritizing industrial interests over environmental and human concerns. Rushikulya River is a major river in Odisha, flowing through Kandhamal, Ganjam, and Boudh districts. It originates from the Daringbadi hills in the Eastern Ghats at about 1000 meters elevation. The river runs for 165 kilometers and empties into the Bay of Bengal near Ganjam. Unlike other rivers, it does not form a delta. Major tributaries include Baghua, Dhanei, and Badanadi.

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Environmentalists have raised concerns with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) about hazardous effluents from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) being discharged into the Dhansiri River, posing a threat to the local ecosystem. The Dhansiri River is the main river of Golaghat district in Assam and Dimapur district in Nagaland and is a key tributary of the Brahmaputra River. It originates from Laisang Peak in Nagaland and flows about 352 km through varying directions before merging with the Brahmaputra at Dhansirimukh in Assam. The river’s catchment area is around 1,220 square kilometers. It flows along the Nagaland-Assam border, passing through ecologically rich zones like Dhansiri Reserved Forest and Intanki National Park.

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A new species of land snail named Theobaldius konkanensis was discovered in Maharashtra’s Konkan region by researchers from India and the United Kingdom (UK). The findings were published in the journal Molluscan Research, under the study titled “A new species of cyclophorid land snail from the coastal regions of Maharashtra.” The species is endemic to the northern Western Ghats, a rich but understudied biodiversity hotspot. It lives in tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, staying active from June to September under leaf litter and damp branches. Researchers urge conservation due to its limited habitat range.

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Citizens and environmentalists launched the ‘Save Bandipur’ protest in Karnataka after reports that the government may lift the night traffic ban on National Highway 766 (NH-766), which passes through Bandipur National Park. Bandipur National Park is a protected forest and tiger reserve located in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka. It was first set up in 1931 as Venugopala Wildlife Park by the Maharaja of Mysore, covering 90 square kilometers. It became a Tiger Reserve in 1973 under Project Tiger and joined the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986 due to its rich biodiversity and ecological importance.

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Recently, bioluminescent blue waves appeared in the backwaters of Kochi, Kerala, drawing tourists but causing concerns about environmental degradation among ecologists and fishers. Bioluminescence is the natural light produced by organisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae when coastal waters are disturbed. The main cause of this glow is Noctiluca scintillans, a type of plankton known as “sea sparkle”. This glow happens due to chemical reactions in parts called scintillons, and it is usually blue but can appear red or brown depending on the plankton’s concentration. The phenomenon is most commonly seen between March and May, known locally as “Kavaru” in Malayalam.

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Forest fires recently broke out in Phawngpui National Park in Mizoram, damaging nearly one-ninth of its total area, according to state forest officials. Phawngpui National Park, also called the Blue Mountain National Park, is in the southeastern corner of Mizoram, close to the India-Myanmar border. It is the highest peak in Mizoram, with an altitude of 2,157 meters above sea level. The park covers 50 square kilometres, overlooks the Chhimtuipui River, and offers views of Myanmar’s hill ranges.

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Marine scientists have captured the world’s first video of a colossal squid swimming freely in the wild. This event comes nearly 100 years after the species was first discovered by researchers. The colossal squid is one of the largest and most mysterious invertebrates on Earth. Its scientific name is Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. It is found in the cold, deep waters of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. Despite its size and rarity, the colossal squid is listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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A Rs 1,500-crore project to restore a 44-kilometre stretch of the Adyar River has been stalled since 2023. The Adyar River starts near Chembarambakkam Lake in Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu. It is one of three rivers flowing through Chennai and joins the Bay of Bengal at the Adyar Estuary. The estuary covers about 300 acres and was declared a protected wildlife reserve in 1987. The river is 42.5 kilometres long and supports Chennai’s estuarine ecosystem. The Adyar Creek near its mouth carries tidal water back to the sea. The river drains water from 200 tanks, lakes, streams, and rainwater over an 860 square kilometre area. Unfortunately, much city waste flows into the river, causing pollution.