Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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A study highlights that indigenous farming traditions have preserved cassava’s genetic diversity for thousands of years. Cassava, also known as Yuca or Manioc, is a root vegetable grown through stem cuttings. It is a tall semi-woody perennial shrub native to South America, later introduced to Africa and Asia by Portuguese sailors. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava. It is rich in energy and vitamins, offering several health benefits. Under India’s National Policy on Biofuels (2018), cassava is recognized as a raw material for ethanol production.

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A rare caracal was spotted in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, exciting wildlife enthusiasts. Caracal is a medium-sized, nocturnal wildcat, also called siya gosh (black ear) in India. Found in rocky hills and grasslands in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, with only around 50 in India, mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat. They have slender bodies, long legs, and can weigh 8-18 kg. Known for their ability to leap 2 meters to catch birds and run at 80 kph.

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Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, has set up India’s first frozen zoo to store genetic material of Himalayan species. It is a collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. The zoo preserves DNA, sperm, eggs, and embryos in liquid nitrogen at -196°C for future conservation. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP), also known as Darjeeling Zoo, is located in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

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A Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), a medium-large raptor, was recently spotted at Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra, by a forest guard. It belongs to the Accipitridae family, which includes eagles, buzzards, and harriers. It is widely found in Europe, Asia, and parts of North America, where it is called the Northern Goshawk. It prefers dense forests, especially coniferous and mixed woodlands. It has short, broad wings, a long tail, and varies in color from blue-grey to nearly black or white. Females are larger than males. Its conservation status is “Least Concern” according to the IUCN Red List.

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Kasungu National Park is in the news due to legal action by communities along the Malawi-Zambia border against the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). This follows increased human-elephant conflicts after relocating 263 elephants into the park. It is located in central Malawi, about 175 km north of Lilongwe. Kasungu is the second-largest park in the country, covering 2,316 sq km. It was established in 1970. It is controlled by Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). The park features rivers like Dwangwa, Lingadzi, and Lifupa, which are important for hippo sightings. The area is predominantly inhabited by the Chewa people. 2/2

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Naini Lake in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region has recorded a water level of 4.7 feet, the lowest in five years. The lake has reached its zero level more than 10 times since 2000, compared to only twice in the 1900s. It is a natural freshwater lake, tectonic in origin, and has a crescent shape due to repeated landslides. Naini Lake is the third-largest lake in Uttarakhand by surface area.

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The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is celebrating its 25th foundation day, marking a major milestone in India’s polar research journey. Established in 1998 as an autonomous Research and Development (R&D) institution under the Government of India, it is based in Goa. NCPOR leads India’s polar and Southern Ocean research, managing missions in some of the world’s most extreme environments. It operates India’s Antarctic stations “Maitri” and “Bharati”, and the Arctic station “Himadri”. It functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

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Asiatic lions, also called Persian Lions or Indian Lions, belong to the subspecies Panthera leo persica and are found only in India, mainly in Gir National Park, Gujarat. Once spread across West Asia and the Middle East, they are now extinct outside India, making Gir their last home. As per the 2020 lion census by the Gujarat Forest Department, there are 674 lions across 30,000 sq km in nine districts and 53 talukas of Saurashtra. Lions are now moving beyond Gir, even reaching Diu Island, showing healthy range expansion. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed them as Endangered since 2008, improved from Critically Endangered in the 1990s due to successful conservation.

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Marine scientists have captured the world’s first video of a colossal squid swimming freely in the wild. This event comes nearly 100 years after the species was first discovered by researchers. The colossal squid is one of the largest and most mysterious invertebrates on Earth. Its scientific name is Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. It is found in the cold, deep waters of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. Despite its size and rarity, the colossal squid is listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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China is increasing its activities in the Yellow Sea after aggressive actions in the South China Sea, including building a huge steel rig. The Yellow Sea is called Huang Hai in China and West Sea in North and South Korea. It is a marginal sea of Western Pacific Ocean and lies north of the East China Sea. It is bordered by China on the north and west, and by North Korea and South Korea on the east. The sea gets its yellow color from sand particles blown in from the Gobi Desert. It covers about 400,000 square kilometers and stretches around 960 kilometers north to south and 700 kilometers east to west. It is shallow, with depths ranging from 55 to 120 meters. It includes one of the world’s largest areas of submerged continental shelf.