Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Eustoma, an exotic flower previously imported to Odisha, has bloomed locally for the first time. The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), cultivated it successfully in Odisha. The flower was grown in a polyhouse at Sanatanpali in Sambalpur, following successful cultivation at NBRI’s Lucknow campus. Eustoma is native to Mexico and America and can be grown twice a year in Odisha. Farmers can earn up to ₹2 lakh per acre per season from Eustoma cultivation. NBRI is a multi-disciplinary plant research institute conducting basic and applied research in strategic plant science areas.

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Researchers have discovered a new freshwater fish species named Garra nambashiensis in Manipur. The discovery was made in Taretlok, a tributary of the Chindwin River, near Nambashi Valley in Kamjong district. The fish belongs to the Labeonine family and is locally called Nutungnu. The Northeast region has 60 Garra species, of which 32 are proboscis species group, including eight from the Chindwin River system.

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Critically endangered yellow-crested cockatoos have found refuge in Hong Kong’s urban parks, making up nearly 10% of the global wild population of just 2,000 mature birds. The species is native to Indonesia and East Timor. These snow-white birds with yellow crests now face nesting problems as old trees are lost to typhoons and government trimming. Global threats like illegal pet trade and climate change also worsen their survival. Conservationists in Hong Kong have begun installing artificial nest boxes, with one pair already using them. The project aims to expand to 50 boxes, helping the species survive in the city.

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Recently, Pulicat Lake fishermen demanded a long-term solution as siltation threatens their livelihoods. Pulicat Lake is a large coastal shallow, brackish water lagoon along the Bay of Bengal. It is India’s second largest brackish water lagoon after Chilika, spanning Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The lagoon is separated from the Bay of Bengal by Sriharikota Island. It is fed by Aarani River in the south and Kalangi River from the northwest; Buckingham Canal passes through it. Pulicat Lake was designated a Ramsar site in 2002 for wetland conservation.

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Southern right whales are producing fewer calves, signaling environmental disruption caused by climate change and changes in ocean ecosystems. They are one of four species of right whales, which are marine mammals that breathe air at the surface and depend on oceans for survival. Historically, whalers called them the “right” whales because they were easy to kill and provided valuable resources like blubber, oil, and baleen. They are distributed across Southern Hemisphere oceans, inhabiting sheltered bays and traveling to cold Antarctic waters in summer. Conservation status is Least Concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Decline in calf production is a critical indicator of ecosystem stress and may impact long-term population sustainability.

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Recently, environmentalists, wildlife activists, and locals urged the Union Environment Ministry to act against the illegal discharge of toxic leachate into the Aravalli hills. Leachate is a highly toxic liquid formed in municipal landfills. It collects at the bottom of landfills through waste decomposition, water infiltration, and chemical reactions. Its composition depends on waste type, landfill age, rainfall, and temperature. It contains organic pollutants, inorganic compounds, heavy metals, and microbes. Leachate can pollute soil, groundwater, and ecosystems, posing serious health risks. Proper leachate collection and disposal are essential under strict environmental regulations to prevent contamination.

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Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister announced development of a nature trail and angling spot in Kamlang Tiger Reserve to promote tourism and empower local communities. Kamlang Tiger Reserve is located in the southeastern part of Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh. It is part of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hot Spot. The reserve is named after the Kamlang River, which flows into the Brahmaputra River. It is bordered by Namdapha National Park in the south, Lang River in the north, Lati River in the west, and Tawe River in the east.

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The Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas), the world’s largest moth, was recently spotted in Guddehalli, Karwar, in Davangere district, Karnataka. It is native to tropical and subtropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. The species is found in countries like Nepal, northeastern India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. It is known for its massive wingspan that can reach up to 25–30 cm. The moth produces a type of silk called “fagara,” which is coarse and woolly. Its presence indicates a healthy rainforest ecosystem.

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A forest department team recently arrested four people for illegally cutting khair trees in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh. Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh. It stretches along the northern banks of the River Ganga and covers parts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor districts. It lies near the ancient town of Hastinapur, known for its cultural and mythological significance.

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Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recently discovered a new species of slender gecko named Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri. It was found in the Tirumala hill ranges within the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh. The species is named after the sacred Venkatadri Hills. It belongs to the genus Hemiphyllodactylus and is the second slender gecko species recorded from Andhra Pradesh, after Hemiphyllodactylus arakuensis. The Venkatadri slender gecko is small, growing just over 2 inches long. It has short limbs and distinctive “spurs” at the base of its tail.