Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to give an undertaking to notify a new wildlife sanctuary in Saranda. Saranda Forest is the largest Sal (Shorea robusta) forest in Asia, located in Jharkhand. Sal is a moist deciduous tree. Saranda means “the land of seven hundred hills”. Nearly 80% of the local population belongs to Ho, Munda, Oraon, and other primitive tribes. The notification aims to protect biodiversity and support tribal livelihoods.

Notes:
Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister announced development of a nature trail and angling spot in Kamlang Tiger Reserve to promote tourism and empower local communities. Kamlang Tiger Reserve is located in the southeastern part of Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh. It is part of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hot Spot. The reserve is named after the Kamlang River, which flows into the Brahmaputra River. It is bordered by Namdapha National Park in the south, Lang River in the north, Lati River in the west, and Tawe River in the east.

Notes:
A forest department team recently arrested four people for illegally cutting khair trees in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh. Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh. It stretches along the northern banks of the River Ganga and covers parts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor districts. It lies near the ancient town of Hastinapur, known for its cultural and mythological significance.

Notes:
A photographer in Spain recently spotted the world’s first-ever white Iberian lynx, a rare sighting. The Iberian lynx is a carnivorous species endemic to Europe. It is one of the world’s most endangered wild cats, recognized by its pointy ears, long legs, and spotted fur. It is nocturnal, mainly hunting rabbits, its primary prey. It is found only in southwest Spain on the Iberian Peninsula, west of the Pyrenees.

Notes:
Recently, a farmer was killed in a tiger attack near Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary in Mysuru, Karnataka. Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Mysuru district, Karnataka. It covers about 30 sq.km and includes the Nugu Reservoir in its northern part. Nugu Dam is built across the Nugu River, a tributary of the Cauvery River.

Notes:
Researchers recently confirmed a new species called Lycodon irwini, a glossy-black wolf snake from Great Nicobar Island, giving fresh importance to India’s biodiversity studies. It was discovered on the remote southern tip of the Nicobar Islands and belongs to the Lycodon subcinctus group. It is named after Australian conservationist Stephen Robert Irwin. It stayed unidentified for years because it closely resembled a widespread species. It has a uniform glossy-black colour, unlike relatives with white bands.

Notes:
The Patra River flows through Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. It was once known for its therapeutic qualities, and Raja Bhoj is said to have been cured of a severe ailment after bathing in it. The river originally functioned as a natural drainage system and carried freshwater into the Upper Lake (Bada Talab). Over time, rapid urbanisation, encroachment, and unregulated waste discharge severely degraded the river. Today, it has become a polluted drain, losing nearly all its ecological and cultural significance. Authorities and environmental experts are now focusing on its revival and restoration.

Notes:
Migratory birds like stork cranes, pelicans, painted storks and bar-headed geese have returned to Keoladeo National Park after heavy monsoon rains. The park is located in Bharatpur district, Rajasthan, and was earlier called Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. It is one of the world’s most important bird breeding and feeding grounds. It was established in the late 19th century by Maharaja Suraj Mal as a hunting reserve.

Notes:
Russia has joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its 19th member, strengthening India-led global efforts to protect endangered big cats. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was launched in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. It is a treaty-based inter-governmental organisation focused on conserving seven big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. The alliance aims to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise for global big cat protection.

Notes:
A new spider species named Dolomedes indicus was discovered in the evergreen rainforests of Western Ghats in Wayanad district, Kerala. It is the first recorded species of the Dolomedes genus, also called raft or fishing spiders, found in India. Unlike house spiders, it is an active semi-aquatic hunter that hunts on water surfaces. It senses vibrations using water surface tension and quickly jumps to catch insects or small fish. It can swim and dive in water.