Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A third tigress was recently released into the wild at Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR), boosting tiger conservation in western Maharashtra. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) is located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, and is the northernmost tiger habitat in the Western Ghats. It is the first tiger reserve of Western Maharashtra and the fourth in the state.

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:
Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, called Ghost of the Forest, was recently photographed in Corbett Reserve, Uttarakhand. Scientific name is Ketupa nipalensis and it is a large forest eagle owl. It is found in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and parts of Southeast Asia. It lives in tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands and savannas. It is one of the longest owls in the world with chocolate brown body and white spots. It is listed as Least Concern in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list.

Notes:
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary hosted the second edition of the two-day Indian Bison Fest. It is located in Bargarh district of Odisha near Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River. Hirakud Dam is the longest dam in India and the longest earthen dam in the world. The sanctuary is linked with freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai, whose base at Barapathara was here during revolt against British rule.

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Karnataka High Court directed the state government to stop all ground activities inside the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ – Eco-Sensitive Zone). The sanctuary is located in Karnataka and forms part of the Western Ghats. It was created by merging Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve, and nearby reserve forest areas. It shares its southwestern boundary with Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary. The terrain is highly undulating, with altitude ranging from 94 m to 1102 m.

Notes:
Researchers discovered a rare new catfish species Amblyceps vayavy in the Western Ghats. It was found in the northern Western Ghats across Goa and Maharashtra. The fish lives in shallow hill streams where the streambed has sand, pebbles, and stones. These streambed conditions create small microhabitats that help the fish hide and search for food. The name “vayavy” means “northwest” in Marathi and Konkani, referring to its location in the northwestern Western Ghats. The species has been recorded only from a few scattered locations, showing its rare distribution.

Notes:
The Western Tragopan has drawn attention due to declining populations in the western Himalayas. It is a rare pheasant species endemic to the Western Himalayas. It is the state bird of Himachal Pradesh and locally called Jujurana meaning “King of Birds.” The bird lives in temperate and subalpine forests with dense undergrowth. It usually occurs at elevations of about 2,400–3,600 metres. Its range includes Uttarakhand, Kashmir, and parts of Pakistan.

Notes:
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve will translocate around 50 wild Asiatic water buffaloes to Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh in phases. The aim is to support species conservation and create a viable population in a new habitat. Kanha Tiger Reserve is located in the Maikal ranges of the Satpura Hills in Madhya Pradesh. It has an active wildlife corridor with Pench Tiger Reserve, ensuring animal movement and genetic diversity. Kanha is also connected to Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh, forming a larger conservation landscape.

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.