Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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The forest department has started preparations for a scientific wildlife census in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary to study the population and movement of tigers, leopards, bears, deer, and foxes. The sanctuary is situated in the Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Zero Point (Jhandi Dhaar), the highest point in the sanctuary, offers views of peaks such as Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Shivling, Trisul, and Nanda Devi. Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary was established mainly to conserve the broadleaf oak forests of the Central Himalayan region.

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Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary witnessed sightings of Himalayan brown bears, reviving conservation interest in the region. The sanctuary is located in Himachal Pradesh and is also known as the Sangla Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lamkhanga Pass trekking route passes through the sanctuary. Lamkhanga Pass connects Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh with the Gangotri region of Uttarakhand.

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The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recovered live Red Sand Boa snakes from an illegal wildlife trade operation in Warangal. Scientifically known as Eryx johnii, the Red Sand Boa is a non-venomous snake found in dry regions of the Indian subcontinent. The species is endemic to India, Pakistan, and Iran. It prefers sandy and loose soil habitats and spends most of its time underground. The snake is known for its thick reddish-brown body and “double-headed” appearance due to its tail shape. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is classified as Near Threatened.

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Saudi Arabia became the 26th member of the International Big Cat Alliance. International Big Cat Alliance is a global coalition focused on conserving seven major big cat species — Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, and Puma. The alliance was launched by India in 2023 during the 50th anniversary celebrations of Project Tiger.

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Researchers at Catholicate College discovered a new species of green algae named Interfilum shuklaii in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The species is named after Shubhanshu Shukla. It is the first reported discovery of the genus Interfilum from India. The genus has importance in biotechnology, carbon sequestration, biofertilizer development, and future space life-support systems due to its stress tolerance and efficient biomass production.

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Karnataka government issued rules to regulate development activities around Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary. Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats region of Belagavi district in Karnataka. The sanctuary is named after Bhimgad Fort, built by Shivaji in the 17th century.
Bhimgad Fort served as a strategic outpost against Portuguese expansion from Goa. The sanctuary shares boundaries with Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.

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The Kshipra flows across the Malwa region and joins the Chambal. Ujjain is situated on its banks.

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The Supreme Court of India recently ordered the removal of encroachments and demolition of illegal structures in the Agasthyamalai landscape. The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is located in the southern part of the Western Ghats across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves under UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme in 2016. The biosphere reserve is known for its rich biodiversity and ecological significance in the Western Ghats region.

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Scientists recently discovered a new fish species, Eechathalakenda incognita, from the Western Ghats in Kerala. It belongs to the Torinae subfamily of the Cyprinidae family and was discovered in streams within the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The species had been mistakenly identified as Eechathalakenda ophicephala for nearly 70 years. E. incognita is restricted to fast-flowing rocky streams inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve, while E. ophicephala is confined to the Pamba River headwaters. The discovery makes E. incognita the ninth point-endemic fish species identified in the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

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Researchers have discovered a new frog species named Ingerana occidens. Ingerana occidens, also called the western trickle frog, is a newly identified species of frog. It was discovered in the Garo Hills and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, located south of the Brahmaputra River. DNA analysis showed an 18% genetic difference between the new species and Ingerana borealis, confirming it as a distinct species. The species name “occidens” comes from the Latin word for “west.” The name was chosen because its habitat represents the westernmost known range of any species in the Ingerana genus.