Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Futala Lake, also called Telankhedi Lake, is a man-made lake in western Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is more than 200 years old and was built in the 18th century during the Bhonsle dynasty rule. It was created to supply water to nearby villages and farmlands. The lake spreads over about 60 acres and is one of the largest lakes in Nagpur. It is surrounded by forest on three sides and a landscaped beach on one side. Recently, it is facing problems due to untreated sewage and increasing pollution.

Notes:
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of Diplura named Lepidocampa sikkimensis in the eastern Himalayas. The species was found in Ravangla, Sikkim. Diplura are small, wingless, soil-dwelling arthropods. This is the first time an Indian research team described a species in this primitive hexapod group. The study provides the first DNA barcode data globally for an Indian Lepidocampa species.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal directed the Uttar Pradesh government to restore Suav’s status from “drain” to “river” in official records. Suav is a major tributary of the Rapti River. Rapti is the most important left bank tributary of the Ghaghara River. Historically, Rapti was known as Iravati. It originates near Rukumkot in Nepal in the Mahabharat Range of the Lesser Himalayas.

Notes:
The first scientific assessment of the Fishing cat has identified Kaziranga National Park and Kaziranga Tiger Reserve as strongholds of this small wild feline species. The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized wild cat known for its strong association with wetlands. It inhabits a variety of wetland ecosystems, including mangrove forests, swamps, marshes, and floodplains. It is native to South and Southeast Asia and has a fragmented distribution across the region. In India, it is primarily found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, along the foothills of the Himalayas in the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys, and in parts of the Western Ghats.

Notes:
A new groundwater fish species, Gitchak nakana, has been discovered in Assam. It belongs to a newly described genus under the family Cobitidae (loaches). The name comes from the Garo language: “Gitchak” means red, referring to its blood-red colour, and “na-tok” and “kana” mean blind fish. It shows subterranean adaptations like absence of visible eyes, translucent pigmentless body, and extreme miniaturisation. It completely lacks a skull roof, with the brain covered only by skin. It lives in groundwater aquifers, which are difficult to access.

Notes:
The Wildlife Wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department recently recorded sambar deer in high-altitude protected areas of Chamba district using camera traps for the first time. Sambar deer is a large deer species native to the Indian subcontinent, southern China and Southeast Asia. It is naturally found in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra and Java. The species lives mainly in forested hills, thick forests, swamp forests and open scrublands, often near cultivated areas. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, its conservation status is Vulnerable.

Notes:
Operation Thunder is a large global operation against wildlife trafficking conducted in 134 countries. It was led by INTERPOL and World Customs Organization. Authorities made about 4,640 seizures of illegal wildlife and wildlife products. More than 30,000 live animals were rescued during the operation. Around 245 tonnes and 91,000 pieces of marine life were seized, including about 4,000 shark fins. About 10,500 butterflies, spiders and insects were seized, showing rising trafficking of smaller species.

Notes:
A new butterfly species Euthalia zubeengargi has been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh. It belongs to the genus Euthalia, commonly found in South and Southeast Asia. It lives in semi-evergreen forests at elevations of 600–750 metres. It prefers cool, shaded forest interiors for survival. It has earthy brown wings with pale spots, typical of this group. It rests on low vegetation and feeds on tree sap and minerals near streams. It is active from late morning to early afternoon, making short slow flights.

Notes:
Police rescued 16 Indian Softshell turtles from illegal wildlife trade in Jharcha, Greater Noida, highlighting ongoing trafficking concerns. The Indian softshell turtle is a freshwater turtle species native to South Asia. They are found in rivers, canals, ponds, and freshwater systems. They are distributed across major river basins like Indus, Ganga, and Mahanadi. They occurs in multiple Indian states (e.g., Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal) and also in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Notes:
Researchers have discovered three new species of rove beetles in Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the region’s rich and largely unexplored biodiversity. The species—Megalopsilus arunachalensis, Megalopsilus mithun, and Megalopsilus microglossus—belong to the genus Megalopsilus and were reported in the journal Soil Organisms. The discovery was made through a collaboration between Rajiv Gandhi University and the University of Tübingen. These beetles were found in forest ecosystems such as decaying wood and moist leaf litter, which are crucial for maintaining ecological balance.