Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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The Western Tragopan has drawn attention due to declining populations in the western Himalayas. It is a rare pheasant species endemic to the Western Himalayas. It is the state bird of Himachal Pradesh and locally called Jujurana meaning “King of Birds.” The bird lives in temperate and subalpine forests with dense undergrowth. It usually occurs at elevations of about 2,400–3,600 metres. Its range includes Uttarakhand, Kashmir, and parts of Pakistan.

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Operation Thunder is a large global operation against wildlife trafficking conducted in 134 countries. It was led by INTERPOL and World Customs Organization. Authorities made about 4,640 seizures of illegal wildlife and wildlife products. More than 30,000 live animals were rescued during the operation. Around 245 tonnes and 91,000 pieces of marine life were seized, including about 4,000 shark fins. About 10,500 butterflies, spiders and insects were seized, showing rising trafficking of smaller species.

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Researchers in Silent Valley National Park discovered a freshwater crab species Vela carli showing both male and female traits at the same time. Vela carli is an endemic species found only in the forests and streams of the Central Western Ghats. It belongs to the family Gecarcinucidae, which includes freshwater crabs. The crab showed gynandromorphy, a rare condition where an organism has both male and female characteristics. Its body had male reproductive structures along with female features like gonopores. This phenomenon is extremely rare in crustaceans and has never been reported earlier in the Gecarcinucidae family.

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The Assam Government is planning to create a new Reserved Forest adjacent to Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur district, Assam, to strengthen conservation efforts. Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, Assam and is part of the Laokhowa–Burhachapori ecosystem. It lies strategically between Kaziranga National Park (east), Orang National Park (west), and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (south). The region experiences a sub-tropical monsoon climate, supporting rich biodiversity.

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The Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh is reopening for tourism, marking a shift from conflict to conservation and eco-tourism. The reserve, along with Bhairamgarh and Pamed Wildlife Sanctuaries, forms the larger Indravati landscape. It has ecological connectivity with tiger reserves like Kawal Tiger Reserve, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, and Kanha Tiger Reserve. The Indravati River forms its northern and western boundary and an interstate border with Maharashtra.

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Researchers recently discovered a new bent-toed gecko species, Cyrtodactylus jayadityai, in Tripura, highlighting Northeast India’s rich biodiversity. The species inhabits lowland forest patches, emphasizing the ecological value of these habitats. It is genetically distinct, showing about 4.7–5.2 percent divergence from its closest relative, Cyrtodactylus tripuraensis, based on mitochondrial Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) analysis. The gecko is nocturnal, becoming active at night for foraging and hiding in burrows during the day. With this discovery, the total number of Cyrtodactylus species in Northeast India has increased to 31.

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The Himachal Pradesh High Court quashed a notification declaring Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Col. Sher Jung National Park, also known as Simbalbara National Park, is located in the Paonta Valley, Himachal Pradesh. It is named after freedom fighter and environmentalist Colonel Sher Jung. The park lies in the lower to upper Shiwalik ranges with elevations between 350–700 metres. It is situated at the confluence of the Himalayas, Gangetic plains, and semi-arid biogeographic regions. It shares ecological connectivity with Kalesar National Park.

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A security review was conducted at Mansar Lake, a key tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a freshwater lake located in Samba district, about 62 km from Jammu, in the foothills of the Shivalik range. The lake is oval-shaped, surrounded by forests and hills, and is one of the largest lakes in the region. It is mainly fed by rainwater and underground springs. It holds religious significance with the Sheshnag Temple, along with Durga and Umapati Mahadev temples nearby. The lake supports rich biodiversity, including algae, fish, and waterfowl species.

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The rare, thread-legged assassin bug Myiophanes kempi was recently rediscovered in the limestone caves of the Andaman Islands after nearly a century-long gap. British entomologist William Edward China first described the species in 1924 after finding it in the Siju Cave of Meghalaya. It is a member of the Reduviidae family, a group of insects popularly known as assassin bugs due to their predatory nature. The insect is a specialized cave-dweller that spends its entire lifecycle in complete darkness within subterranean ecosystems. It features a slender body and elongated legs that are specifically adapted for navigating and surviving in cave environments.

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India has emerged as the evolutionary cradle of Jamun (genus Syzygium), with origins tracing back about 80 million years. Earlier, Jamun was believed to have originated in Australia or Southeast Asia, but new research suggests an East Gondwanan origin with early presence in India. Jamun belongs to the family Myrtaceae and is also known as black plum or Indian black cherry. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widely distributed across Asia and Australia. India is a leading producer, with Maharashtra topping production. Bahadoli Jamun received GI tag in 2024, and cultivation is expanding across several states.