Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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The European Red Admiral butterfly, scientifically called Vanessa atalanta, has been recorded for the first time in India near Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. This rare sighting was confirmed during a butterfly survey at Thatharna Hill in the Dhauladhar mountain range, at an altitude of 2,500 metres. The observation was verified by Himalayan butterfly expert Lovish Garlani from the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department. This raises the total number of butterfly species in Himachal Pradesh to 440, highlighting the region’s rich biodiversity. The species is known for long migrations across Europe and North America and was last seen in South Asia in 2022 in Pakistan after a 93-year gap. It has no confirmed records from China, Mongolia, or Afghanistan, making its presence in India a significant eastward range expansion.

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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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A recent breakthrough came as an international team of scientists successfully mapped the genome of the Saola using tissue fragments from hunter-collected remains. The Saola, scientifically named Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is one of the rarest land mammals and is nicknamed the “Asian Unicorn” because of its secretive nature. It was first discovered in 1992 during a joint survey by the Vietnamese Ministry of Forestry and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with only about 50 to 300 individuals estimated as of 2015. The Saola lives in the evergreen forests of the Annamite Mountains along the Vietnam–Laos border, a region rich in biodiversity and rainfall.

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Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to file a fresh action taken report regarding pollution abatement efforts for the River Bhadar near Ahmedabad. The Bhadar River, a major river in Gujarat’s Saurashtra peninsula, originates near Hingolgadh in Junagadh and flows into the Arabian Sea near Navi Bandargam. It has a catchment area of about 7953 sq. km and spans roughly 190 km in length. The Bhadar Dam, constructed in 1965, is a major reservoir located near Jetpur. The NGT, established under the NGT Act of 2010, is a specialized judicial body handling cases related to environmental protection.

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A new butterfly species called Euthalia Malaccana has been recorded for the first time in India in Arunachal Pradesh. This species is usually found in the Indo-Australian region, mainly in Southeast Asia including northern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and the Sunda Islands. Male butterflies have a distinct blue apical spot on their forewings, while females have larger apical spots. Their hindwings have small red spots. The discovery is important as the species acts as an indicator of ecosystem health. This recent finding adds to India’s rich biodiversity, especially in the Northeast region.

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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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The Uttarakhand Forest Department’s latest report highlights the conservation of 2,228 plant species. It includes rare plants like the White Himalayan Lily and Tree Fern. The White Himalayan Lily (Lilium polyphyllum) is native to the Himalayas and has white or pink flowers with dark spots. It contains important chemicals like alkaloids and furocoumarins. Traditionally, it is used to treat conditions like excessive thirst, vomiting blood, bronchitis, and rheumatism. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified it as Critically Endangered.

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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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Visakhapatnam’s Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is celebrating World Dhole Day on May 28 to raise awareness about the endangered dhole. Dholes, also called the Asiatic wild dog, have the scientific name Cuon alpinus. They are wild canids native to Southeast Asia and are known for their strong social behavior and teamwork in hunting. Dholes usually live 10 to 13 years in the wild and up to 16 years in captivity. Their global population is estimated between 949 and 2,215 adults, mostly in India and Thailand. Major threats include habitat loss, reduced prey, human persecution, disease, and competition with other predators. Dholes are listed in Appendix II of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. They are also classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, which tracks global species conservation status.