Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Hurricane Melissa has made a catastrophic landfall in Jamaica, causing heavy rainfall, storm surge, and severe structural damage. Hurricanes are the most intense storms on Earth, also known as typhoons or cyclones, depending on their location. Scientifically, they are called tropical cyclones, which form over warm ocean waters through the same process worldwide. The term “hurricane” is used for storms forming in the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean. These storms are named from a six-year rotating list maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

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:
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:
Cuban scientists are working to restore Cuba’s Zapata Swamp to save the Cuban gar from extinction. The Cuban gar (Atractosteus tristoechus), also called manjuarí, belongs to the Lepisosteidae family. Gars are an ancient fish family, existing for about 100 million years. It is a tropical freshwater species that can also live in brackish water. The IUCN conservation status of the Cuban gar is Critically Endangered.

Notes:
A rare Striated Grassbird was recorded for the first time in Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary, marking a major range extension in Maharashtra. Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The sanctuary lies between the Markhanda and Pedigundam hills with the Pranhita River along its western side. It is located near the confluence of the Wardha and Wainganga rivers.

Notes:
A major four-month wildlife survey has recently begun across the Buxa Tiger Reserve to assess biodiversity and strengthen conservation efforts. The Buxa Tiger Reserve is located in West Bengal, and its northern boundary touches the international border with Bhutan. It acts as an international corridor for elephant migration between India and Bhutan, supporting long-distance wildlife movement.

Notes:
A new shieldtail snake species, Rhinophis siruvaniensis, was discovered with help from citizen scientists in the Siruvani Hills, spanning Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the Western Ghats. The snake is shiny brownish-black with creamy white patches and has a dome-shaped tail tip. Shieldtail snakes are small, non-venomous, soil-burrowing snakes of the Uropeltidae family, also called uropeltids. They are named “shieldtails” because of their disc-shaped tail tip. These snakes are endemic to India and Sri Lanka, mainly found in the Western Ghats and parts of Peninsular India.

Notes:
Siliserh Lake in Alwar district, Rajasthan, has been declared a Ramsar site, becoming India’s 96th wetland under the Convention on Wetlands. Ramsar designation boosts biodiversity conservation, water and climate security, and sustainable livelihoods. Siliserh Lake is known for its rich biodiversity and scenic landscape, attracting birdwatchers with over 100 species including cranes and kingfishers. Its location near the Sariska Tiger Reserve enhances its significance as a tourism destination. The status is expected to strengthen conservation efforts, promote tourism, and support biodiversity and water-resource management. Siliserh Lake was built in 1845 by Maharaja Vinay Singh to supply drinking water to Alwar city, and its historic aqueducts are still visible.

Notes:
Ladakh’s double-humped Bactrian camels will debut at the 77th Republic Day parade, highlighting their unique heritage. Scientifically known as Camelus bactrianus, they are large even-toed ungulates called Ladakh’s “silent warriors”. They are native to Central Asia, ranging from Afghanistan to China, mainly in the Mongolian steppes and Gobi Desert. In India, small populations survive in the high-altitude cold desert of Nubra Valley, Ladakh. They are mainly herbivores and are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
The Indian Skimmer Conservation Project was launched by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). BNHS, established in 1883, is one of India’s largest non-governmental organizations working on conservation and biodiversity research. The Indian Skimmer is native to South Asia, mainly found in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and extends to Nepal and Myanmar. It has a unique feeding method, skimming the water surface with its specialised beak, where the lower mandible is longer. The species inhabits sandy lowland rivers, lakes, marshes, estuaries, and coastal areas. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Indian Skimmer is Endangered.