Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Sultanpur National Park, located in the Gurgaon district of Haryana about 46 km from Delhi, is witnessing a major increase in migratory birds as winter temperatures drop. The Sultanpur Jheel is a seasonal freshwater wetland whose water levels rise and fall depending on rainfall and seasonal inflows. This shallow lake is mainly replenished by water from the Yamuna River’s Gurgaon canal and by overflow from surrounding agricultural fields. It was designated a Ramsar Site in 2021, recognising its global ecological importance.

Notes:
Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) reported a global crackdown on illegal wildlife and forestry trade in 2025. The operation ran from 15 September to 15 October 2025 across 134 countries. Police, customs, border security, forestry and wildlife agencies worked together. A total of 4,640 seizures were made in one month. More than 30,000 live animals, protected plants, timber and spices were seized. The crackdown was called Operation Thunder 2025 and was led by Interpol with the World Customs Organization. Authorities seized ivory, rhino horns, pangolin scales, reptiles, birds, insects, plants and illegal timber. Interpol warned that wildlife crime is worth up to 20 billion US dollars yearly and linked to other serious crimes.

Notes:
Archaeologists discovered India’s largest circular stone labyrinth in the Boramani grasslands of Solapur, Maharashtra. It is made of small stone blocks arranged in multiple circular rings. The rings guide movement inward to a tightly coiled central spiral, showing high precision and symbolic meaning. The structure is linked to Indo-Roman trade during the Satavahana dynasty period. Soil accumulated between the stone rings indicates it remained untouched for several centuries. Its design resembles Mediterranean labyrinths seen on Roman-era coins. The central spiral reflects the Indian concept of Chakravyūha, a complex military formation described in the Mahabharata.

Notes:
A viral video of a Himalayan red fox near Pangong Tso in Ladakh has drawn attention, while wildlife officials warned against human interference. The Himalayan red fox is a subspecies of the red fox with the scientific name Vulpes vulpes montana. It is native to the Himalayan region across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. In India, it is found in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. It lives at high altitudes between 2,500 and 5,000 metres in diverse habitats. Its conservation status under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List is Least Concern.

Notes:
A new fungus species named Parasynnemellisia khasiana has been discovered in bamboo forests near Mawsynram, Meghalaya. It was found on dead stems of thorny bamboo Chimonocalamus griffithianus. The species is named after the Khasi Hills region. Laboratory studies showed it does not belong to any known fungal genus. Researchers created a new genus called Parasynnemellisia with khasiana as its first species.

Notes:
A new conservation project has been approved to protect breeding habitats of sandbar-nesting birds in the Ganga basin, focusing on endangered species like the Indian Skimmer. The Indian Skimmer (also called Indian Scissors-bill) is a distinctive waterbird native to southern Asia. It is one of only three skimmer species worldwide. It is found across India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, with Nepal as a non-breeding visitor. The species is endangered and relies on sandbar habitats for breeding, making protection of these areas crucial for its survival.

Notes:
Recently, an Eastern Imperial Eagle was confirmed visiting Mudumalai Tiger Reserve during the winter migratory season. The scientific name of the Eastern Imperial Eagle is Aquila heliaca. The species breeds in southeastern Europe and across West and Central Asia, with most populations migrating to northeastern Africa, the Middle East, and South and East Asia during winter. It is the second largest eagle in Europe, reaching about 0.92 meters in length, a wingspan of approximately 2.14 meters, and a weight of around 3.6 kilograms. According to the IUCN Red List, the Eastern Imperial Eagle is classified as Vulnerable.

Notes:
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) recently released 15 critically endangered Indian vultures in Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. Melghat Tiger Reserve is located in Maharashtra on the southern offshoot of the Satpura Range called Gavilgarh Hill. It was the first tiger reserve established in Maharashtra. The name Melghat means the confluence of several valleys reflecting its landscape. It is the catchment area of five Tapti River tributaries: Khandu, Khapra, Sipna, Gadga, and Dolar.

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Kerala and Tamil Nadu have started restoring habitats and strengthening monitoring of the grey slender loris. The grey slender loris, scientifically called Loris lydekkerianus, is a primate belonging to the family Loridae and is a prosimian, an ancient group of primates. It is found in southern India, mainly Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, and also in Sri Lanka. It lives in rainforests, dry forests, scrublands, bamboo areas, swamps, and montane cloud forests. It is listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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A new hedgehog species, Brandt’s hedgehog, has been discovered for the first time in India in Jammu and Kashmir through Deoxyribonucleic Acid analysis and morphological studies. Brandt’s hedgehog is a desert hedgehog scientifically known as Paraechinus hypomelas. It is native to the Middle East and Central Asia, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. The species lives in arid and semi-arid habitats such as rocky deserts, scrublands, and dry mountain slopes. It is listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.