Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh will establish Nauradehi Sanctuary as the third home for cheetahs, after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. Cheetahs will be brought from Namibia (Africa) and released into Nauradehi to expand conservation efforts. The state is actively working on wildlife conservation, including releasing six crocodiles (four females, two males) into the Indira Sagar Dam on the Narmada River. A gharial conservation campaign is ongoing, and some gharials will be sent to Assam on request. Plans are underway for a new Omkareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 61,407 hectares across Khandwa and Dewas districts.

Notes:
A new species of jumping spider named Pilia malenadu was recently discovered in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It was found in Madhugundi, located in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. The species belongs to the Pilia genus of jumping spiders. It was named “Pilia malenadu” to honour the region where it was discovered. This is a historic find as the last Pilia species was recorded 123 years ago in 1902 in Kerala. For the first time, researchers found both male and female spiders of this genus.

Notes:
The Forest Department is set to begin the next tiger census in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR). Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is located in the Nallamala hill ranges, an offshoot of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of India’s largest tiger reserves, covering 3,728 square kilometres. It supports the largest tiger population in the Eastern Ghats landscape. The reserve is named after the Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam Dams. It includes Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM).

Notes:
Recently, Chilean scientists warned about further risks to the world’s shrinking Humboldt penguin population. Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) belongs to the ‘banded’ genus. They are named after the Humboldt Current, a cold oceanic upwelling near their habitat. Humboldt penguins are endemic to the Pacific coasts of Chile and Peru. Chile’s Pacific coast hosts 80 percent of the remaining population. It is listed as Vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Notes:
The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change recently launched the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30. The initiative was first announced at the G20 Leaders Summit 2024 as a multilateral effort among countries and global organisations. It aims to fund research and actions that promote truthful and reliable information on climate issues. A Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change has also been launched. The Declaration states that climate misinformation has become a climate crisis. It defines climate misinformation as false or misleading content about climate change, its causes, impacts, or solutions

Notes:
No registered breeders or authorised pet shops exist in India for African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus), yet they are widely sold in pet markets. Forest departments confirmed through Right to Information (RTI) replies that no breeder has registered with them. The species is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), requiring special permits and CITES certificates for domestic and international trade. African grey parrot is a medium-sized dusty grey bird, scientifically called Psittacus erithacus, and known as one of the most talented talking/mimicking birds. It has a lifespan of over 50 years and is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
Hayli Gubbi volcano has erupted after 10,000 years, sending a massive ash cloud towards northern India. It is located in Ethiopia’s Afar region, northeast of Addis Ababa and close to the Eritrean border. It is a shield volcano situated in the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and most remote places on Earth. Hayli Gubbi is the southernmost volcano in the Erta Ale range. The Erta Ale range is famous for persistent lava lakes and mainly consists of shield volcanoes. Hayli Gubbi has no previously recorded eruptions in modern history, making this event significant.

Notes:
Bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis spinipes) has been rediscovered in India after 72 years, in Karnataka and Odisha. The rediscovery was by researchers from Centre for Climate Change Studies, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai. Bamboo shrimp are filter feeders, using fan-like limb structures to capture edible particles from flowing water. It is a medium-sized freshwater shrimp native to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Notes:
Land reclamation in the ravines of the Chambal River area increases risks of soil erosion, flooding, and loss of biodiversity. The Chambal, called Charmanvati in ancient times, is a major tributary of the Yamuna in the Gangetic drainage system. It is a perennial river originating from Janapav near Indore on the Vindhya range. It flows through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Notes:
A tigress will be airlifted from Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) to Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR), Rajasthan, marking the state’s first inter-state tiger translocation. Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) is located in Bundi district, Rajasthan. It acts as a wildlife corridor between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve. Mez River, a tributary of Chambal River, flows through the reserve.