Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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The Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko was rediscovered in the Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, after being unseen for 34 years. This flat-bodied lizard grows up to 8–9 cm and is adapted to live on cliffs and rocky outcrops, making it hard to spot. It was first discovered in 1991, but no sightings since then led to fears of extinction or doubts about it being a distinct species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had listed it as “Data Deficient” due to lack of data. The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) confirmed its rediscovery during a special expedition to a remote rocky area. This gecko is the fifth lost species rediscovered by the Endangered Wildlife Trust in recent years, after a dune mole, a butterfly, a lizard, and a frog.

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California’s Tulare Lake, which had dried up long ago, reemerged after a gap of 130 years due to powerful atmospheric rivers over the region. Tulare Lake is located in the San Joaquin Valley in California, United States of America. It was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. The lake disappeared over time mainly due to man-made irrigation systems. In 2023, heavy atmospheric rivers brought record rainfall to California. This rare weather event caused Tulare Lake to reemerge after 130 years. The Kern River, which is fed by snowmelt from the southern Sierra Nevada, helps refill the lake. The Tachi Yokut tribe traditionally depended on Tulare Lake for survival as the region receives very little rainfall.

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Scientists recently discovered a new species of damselfly called Caliphaea sinuofurcata in Arunachal Pradesh. It was found during biodiversity surveys in the Upper Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts. The species is proposed to be named the “Bearded Bronzeback” due to its unique appearance. This is only the second species of the genus Caliphaea ever recorded in India. The first species, Caliphaea confusa, was documented more than 165 years ago. The genus Caliphaea is usually found in Southeast Asia and China, making this a significant discovery for Indian biodiversity.

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The Valley of Flowers recently reopened to tourists for this year. The Valley of Flowers National Park is located in the Uttarakhand. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, along with Nanda Devi National Park. It was discovered in 1931 by British mountaineer Frank S. Smythe and his team. It is famous for its rich flora like orchids, poppies, daisies, and medicinal herbs.

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The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) recently announced the successful birth of a mouse deer, highlighting its conservation and breeding success. The mouse deer, also called the Indian Chevrotain, is the smallest deer species and is known for its shy and elusive behavior. It is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent, mainly found in peninsular India, with some old records from Nepal, and a separate species in Sri Lanka. In India, it is seen in Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats up to Odisha, and central Indian forests.

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Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir Government formed a Divisional Level Committee to monitor the Eco-Sensitive Zone around the Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is located in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and is named after the twin lakes Surinsar and Mansar. It spreads across Jammu, Udhampur, and Samba districts, with most of it lying in Jammu district.

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Due to soaring market demand, overharvesting has pushed wild agarwood close to extinction. Aquilaria malaccensis, also called agarwood, is a tree from the Thymelaeaceae family known for its fragrant resin. Agarwood, also known as Oud, Gaharu or Agar, is one of the most valuable incense materials globally. It grows naturally in Northeast India, mainly in Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Its conservation status is Critically Endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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Recently, a wildlife scientist highlighted the use of CaTRAT (Camera Trap data Repository and Analysis Tool) to identify Himalayan snow leopards. CaTRAT is a software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and neural network models to automatically sort camera trap images of animal species. It helps researchers efficiently process large volumes of photos and identify snow leopards in high-altitude regions.

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Recently, the Odisha government announced plans to introduce tigers in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bargarh district. Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located near the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River in Odisha. Hirakud Dam is the longest dam in India and the longest earthen dam in the world. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985.

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Recently, at Ramsar COP15 held at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, India introduced a resolution on ‘Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands’. The resolution was adopted with support from 172 Ramsar Contracting Parties, 6 International Organisation Partners, and other observers. It highlights the importance of individual and societal choices in wetland conservation and promotes a pro-planet lifestyle. It urges countries to integrate lifestyle-based interventions into wetland policies, plans, and investments. The resolution calls for public-private collaboration, education at all levels, and awareness to promote wise use of wetlands.