Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Odisha government recently invited bids to build a high-level bridge over the Mahanadi River near Satkosia Tiger Reserve, raising ecological concerns. Satkosia Tiger Reserve is located in Odisha across Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, Nayagarh districts. It includes Baisipalli Sanctuary and Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary. It is part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve. Satkosia lies at the junction of the Deccan Peninsula and Eastern Ghats biogeographic regions.

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Kerala has emerged as the top state in India for new faunal discoveries in 2024, with 101 species, as per a new report by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). The ZSI documented a record-breaking 683 species and subspecies in 2024, the highest ever in a single year since 2008. The report Animal Discoveries: New Species and New Records 2024 was released by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav during ZSI’s 110th anniversary in Kolkata. Of the 683 species, 459 are new to science globally, and 224 are recorded for the first time in India. Karnataka (82), Arunachal Pradesh (72), Tamil Nadu (63), and West Bengal (56) followed Kerala in discoveries.

Notes:
Recently, a new spider species named Piratula acuminata was discovered by researchers from Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata on Sagar Island in the Sundarbans. This is the first recorded presence of the genus Piratula in India, a group of wolf spiders mainly found in Asia, with few in Europe and North America. The spider belongs to the Lycosidae family, known for ground-dwelling, ambush-hunting behavior rather than web-building. The discovery emphasizes the biodiversity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sundarbans, and calls for stronger conservation efforts.

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A rare creature called the Horsehair Worm was recently spotted in the Motidol Beat of the Mohandra Range under the Southern Forest Division of Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. Horsehair worms are also called Gordian worms and belong to the phylum Nematomorpha. This worm looks like a thin, wrinkled, brown or white thread and is often seen in muddy or wet areas, usually in tangled bundles. It is harmless to humans and a sign of healthy biodiversity and ecological balance in Panna forest.

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Chile launched a major conservation drive to save the endangered Darwin’s frog. Darwin’s frog is also known as the Southern Darwin’s frog. It was discovered by Charles Darwin in 1834 in Chile’s southern Chiloé Islands. The frog is tiny, measuring only 3 cm (1.18 inches), and has leaf-like skin. It is a diurnal species, active during the day and sleeping at night. When threatened, it plays dead by lying still on the forest floor or floating in streams. It is found in Chile and Argentina in humid forests and forest streams. The species includes two types: Rhinoderma darwinii (endangered) and Rhinoderma rufum (critically endangered and nearly extinct).

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Odisha launched a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under the Shree Anna Abhiyan (SAA) to conserve landraces and empower smallholder farmers. Landraces are genetically diverse traditional seed varieties adapted to local conditions with traits like pest resistance and climate resilience. The SOP bridges the gap between formal seed systems and community-led traditional seed systems. It expands beyond millets to include pulses, cereals, and tubers. Surveys will identify valuable landraces based on farmers’ knowledge and scientific traits.

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In a historic move, National Waterway-57 (River Kopili) was recently made operational to boost Assam’s river trade and sustainable logistics. River Kopili is a major south bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River in Assam. It originates from Saipong Reserve Forest in North Cachar Hills, Meghalaya, at 1525 meters altitude in the Borail Range. It is an interstate river flowing through Meghalaya and Assam. It passes through North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, and Morigaon districts of Assam.

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Recently, the central government initiated steps to include the Pampa River under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). Pampa is the third longest river in Kerala after the Periyar River and Bharathappuzha River. It is called ‘Dakshina Bhageerathi’ or the Ganga of Kerala, with deep religious importance linked to Sabarimala temple. Pilgrims to Sabarimala take a holy dip in the Pampa before and after the trek.

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Recently, Kilauea volcano erupted in Hawaii, a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean. Kilauea volcano is located in the United States, on the island of Hawaii. It’s part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Kilauea is the world’s most active volcano. It’s located on the southeastern part of Hawaii’s Big Island. Kilauea is a shield volcano, and the youngest and most active of the Hawaiian shield volcanoes.

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A recent report by the North American Environmental Commission criticised Mexico for failing to protect the endangered vaquita porpoise, with only 10 left. Vaquita is the smallest member of the porpoise family and the most endangered marine mammal in the world. It lives only in the northern part of the Gulf of California, with the smallest range of any whale, dolphin, or porpoise. It is usually found in shallow waters up to 50 metres deep. It is classified as Critically Endangered under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).