Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Scientists recently discovered a new fish species named Pethia dibrugarhensis in the Brahmaputra River at Maijan in Dibrugarh, Assam. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family and is classified as a barb. It lives in moderately fast-flowing river stretches with mud, sand, and stone beds. It coexists with other small native fish species in the region. The fish has an incomplete lateral line. It shows a prominent black blotch on both the dorsal and ventral sides of the caudal peduncle. It lacks humeral marks and barbels, making it distinct from other species.

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Recently, ‘Vatsala’, Asia’s oldest elephant, died at the age of over 100 years in Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. Panna Tiger Reserve is the only tiger reserve in the Bundelkhand region. It is located in the Vindhyan mountain range in northern Madhya Pradesh. It lies in the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic zone and the Central Highlands biotic province.

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Environmentalists recently raised alarm over the approval of an eco-tourism resort on Surla plateau inside Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, which lies in a critical tiger habitat. Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is located in North Goa in the Western Ghats. It is named after the Mhadei River that flows through it and features scenic waterfalls like Vazra Sakla Falls and Virdi Falls. Goa’s three highest peaks—Sonsogod, Talvche Sada, and Vagheri—are located within the sanctuary. Forests are dense with semi-evergreen and moist deciduous trees like teak, sal, bamboo, orchids, and medicinal plants.

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The Pale-capped Pigeon was recently spotted in Dehing Patkai National Park, Assam, marking a rare and important sighting for birdwatchers and conservationists. It is also called the Purple Wood Pigeon due to its dark purplish-maroon colour. It is found locally across parts of northern and northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The bird lives mainly in primary or secondary evergreen forests, and also in bamboo groves and farmlands near forests.

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Tamil Nadu has recently announced the establishment of India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore district. Hornbills, called “farmers of the forest”, are vital seed dispersers aiding forest regeneration. They are under threat due to deforestation, habitat loss, and climate change impacts. Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) was chosen due to its rich biodiversity and conservation history for species like tigers, elephants, and lion-tailed macaques.

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A tiny animal called the silver-backed chevrotain, or two-tone mouse deer, was rediscovered in a Vietnamese forest after being lost for nearly 30 years. It was captured on camera using trap cameras by scientists from Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC). The chevrotain is a rabbit-sized hoofed mammal with a russet head, silver-grey body, and white rear end. Mouse Deer live in dense tropical forests across South and Southeast Asia like India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Mouse Deer are mainly herbivores, feeding on fruits, leaves, and soft plants.

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Recently, red panda cubs were born at Himalayan Zoological Park near Gangtok, Sikkim after a gap of 7 years under a conservation programme. Red panda is also called the lesser panda. It is a shy, solitary, herbivorous and tree-dwelling (arboreal) animal. It uses its long bushy tail for balance and warmth during winter. It is an indicator species that signals ecological changes. It is mainly found in mountain forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar. It is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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A new species of rain snake named Smithophis leptofasciatus was recently discovered by researchers from Mizoram University. The species belongs to the Smithophis genus, known for semi-aquatic snakes found in rain-prone areas. The name leptofasciatus means “narrow-banded” in Greek and Latin, describing its unique dorsal markings. It is commonly called the narrow-banded rain snake. It was found in tropical montane forests of Mizoram at elevations between 900–1,200 meters. With this discovery, the total number of known Smithophis species becomes five, all from northeastern India and nearby regions.

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The Indian Carbon Market is set to launch in 2026, with carbon dioxide (CO₂) removal technologies like biochar playing a key role. Biochar is a carbon-rich charcoal made from agricultural residue and organic municipal solid waste. It is produced by heating crop residue at 400°C to 600°C in a kiln without oxygen. Biochar can store carbon in soil for 100-1,000 years, acting as a long-term carbon sink. In agriculture, it improves water retention, restores degraded soils, and reduces nitrous oxide emissions by 30-50%. In industries, modified biochar can capture CO₂ from exhaust gases, though efficiency is lower than conventional methods.

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Scientists recently recorded the rare nocturnal moth species Antitrisuloides catocalina in Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary, Palakkad district, Kerala. This is the first time the species has been found in the Western Ghats. It belongs to the genus Antitrisuloides and is part of the Noctuidae family. The genus has only two known species worldwide. The specimen in Kerala was earlier reported only from North-East India.