Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife recommended diversion of about 272 hectares of forest for the Kopra Medium Irrigation Project. The diversion lies in the core area of Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve is located in Madhya Pradesh. It includes areas of Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary. The reserve lies across the Narmada and Yamuna river basins.

Notes:
Recently, an adult male tiger named ‘Explorer’ was reintroduced into the wild in Papikonda National Park as part of Operation Stripes. Papikonda National Park is located along the banks of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh. The park is recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area by BirdLife International.

Notes:
Forest officials in Kerala recently rescued a critically endangered White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) found weak and grounded at Mampad near Nilambur. The White-rumped vulture, also known as the Indian or Oriental White-backed Vulture, is a small Old World vulture native to South and Southeast Asia. It primarily feeds on carcasses, locating them by soaring high in thermals and observing other scavengers. Its distribution spans Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam, with a preference for plains habitats. The White-rumped vulture is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
An Right to Information (RTI) activist filed an online petition to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking criminal, departmental and regulatory action over pollution of the Bhavani River. Bhavani River is a major tributary of the Cauvery River. It flows through Kerala and Tamil Nadu and is the second largest river of Tamil Nadu. It originates in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. It passes through Silent Valley National Park in Kerala, then re-enters Tamil Nadu. It merges with the Cauvery at Bhavani near Bhavani Sangameshwarar Temple.

Notes:
Stenothoe lowryi is a rare shrimp-like marine crustacean recently recorded in India for the first time. It was discovered at Arjyapalli Beach by researchers from Berhampur University, Odisha. Earlier, the species was known only from Malaysia waters. It belongs to family Stenothoidae under the order Amphipoda. Amphipods are small invertebrate crustaceans related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. They live in oceans, lakes, rivers, beaches, caves, and moist tropical habitats. The name Amphipoda means “different-footed” because they have different types of legs.

Notes:
Scientists in West Bengal have discovered a new estuarine fish species named Butis bargabhimae in the Rupnarayan River, a tributary of the Hooghly River near Tamluk, West Bengal. Butis bargabhimae belongs to the butid family, commonly known as gudgeon goby, which usually live in brackish water where rivers meet the sea. The species is unique because it has interorbital scales (scales between the eyes), unlike most related fish which have smooth areas there. It also has additional auxiliary scales across its body, making it structurally distinct. The fish shows clear light and dark bands on its pectoral fins, which are absent in similar species.

Notes:
The Madras High Court issued 34 directions to eradicate the invasive species Prosopis juliflora from Tamil Nadu. Prosopis juliflora is a mesquite shrub/tree (Fabaceae) native to Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean, introduced in India during the British period. It is a highly invasive species with strong adaptability to varied soils (sand to clay, saline to alkaline) and wide rainfall conditions. The plant shows rapid growth and outcompetes native vegetation, leading to loss of biodiversity and degradation of grasslands.

Notes:
A pair of Shaheen Falcon was recently found nesting in a multi-storey residential complex in Kochi, highlighting its adaptability to urban environments. The Shaheen Falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinator) is a non-migratory subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon found mainly in the Indian subcontinent. It is found across India and also reported in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
Zoological Survey of India recently discovered a new marine crab species named Chhapgarus ngankeeae from the mangroves of Goa. The species is named in honour of the late Ngan Kee Ng, a noted marine biologist from the National University of Singapore. It is found in muddy intertidal mangrove forests along the west coast of India. Mangrove crabs, including Chhapgarus ngankeeae, play an important ecological role by recycling nutrients and supporting coastal food chains.

Notes:
A new frog species named Nyctibatrachus kali (Kali Night Frog) has been discovered. It is found in Kali Tiger Reserve. The name comes from the nearby Kali River, after which the reserve is also named. It is a cryptic species, meaning it looks very similar to other frogs. It resembles the Kumbara Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus kumbara) discovered in 2014. Its sound is unique and similar to wood-chopping noise in forests. Kali Tiger Reserve is located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.