Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) identified seven pollution sources in the Tunga River. The district administration is investigating encroachments along its banks. The Tunga River flows through Karnataka, originating from Varaha Parvata in the Western Ghats. It merges with the Bhadra River at Koodli, forming the Tungabhadra River, which later joins the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. Known for its pristine waters, it has religious sites like Sringeri, Sarada Temple, and Vidyasankara Temple. The Gajanur Dam, an S-shaped dam, is built over the river.

Notes:
A collision between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea caused a massive fire, injuring 32 people. A large-scale rescue operation was launched by the UK Coastguard, with firefighting vessels and emergency services responding. The North Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between Great Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.

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Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Uttar Pradesh is set to become a new sanctuary for rhinos from Nepal. PTR is located in Uttar Pradesh. The river Gomti originates from PTR, with other rivers like Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot flowing through it. The reserve features sal forests, tall grasslands, and swamps maintained by periodic flooding. The 22 km-long Sharda Sagar Dam marks its boundary. It has a dry and hot climate, with a mix of dry teak forests and Vindhya Mountain soils.

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Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP), in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh, has been added to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the ‘Natural’ category. It is located in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. The park is named after the Kanger River, a tributary of the Kolab River. The park features flatlands, slopes, plateaus, gorges, and Tirathgarh Falls (150 feet). It has 15+ limestone caves, including Kotumsar, Kailash, and Dandak.

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The Supreme Court has ordered the Rajasthan government to demolish the illegal Seven Wonders Park near Ana Sagar Lake within six months due to environmental concerns and wetland law violations. Ana Sagar Lake is located in Ajmer, Rajasthan, and was constructed between 1135-1150 AD by King Arnoraja. The lake has historical significance, with Mughal emperor Jahangir’s Daulat Bagh garden and Shah Jahan’s five marble pavilions nearby. The lake is not yet designated as a Ramsar site.

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A Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), a medium-large raptor, was recently spotted at Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra, by a forest guard. It belongs to the Accipitridae family, which includes eagles, buzzards, and harriers. It is widely found in Europe, Asia, and parts of North America, where it is called the Northern Goshawk. It prefers dense forests, especially coniferous and mixed woodlands. It has short, broad wings, a long tail, and varies in color from blue-grey to nearly black or white. Females are larger than males. Its conservation status is “Least Concern” according to the IUCN Red List.

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Climate change is rapidly melting glaciers on Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain. Lewis Glacier, once a major ice mass, has shrunk drastically and may disappear by 2030. The Lewis Glacier is located on Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya is an extinct stratovolcano and Africa’s second-highest mountain after Kilimanjaro. The glacier’s retreat highlights the severe impact of global warming on Africa’s high-altitude ice.

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Naini Lake in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region has recorded a water level of 4.7 feet, the lowest in five years. The lake has reached its zero level more than 10 times since 2000, compared to only twice in the 1900s. It is a natural freshwater lake, tectonic in origin, and has a crescent shape due to repeated landslides. Naini Lake is the third-largest lake in Uttarakhand by surface area.

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The Odisha government’s proposal to construct a dam at Pipalapanka in Ganjam district has sparked protests from environmentalists and local communities. The project is criticized for prioritizing industrial interests over environmental and human concerns. Rushikulya River is a major river in Odisha, flowing through Kandhamal, Ganjam, and Boudh districts. It originates from the Daringbadi hills in the Eastern Ghats at about 1000 meters elevation. The river runs for 165 kilometers and empties into the Bay of Bengal near Ganjam. Unlike other rivers, it does not form a delta. Major tributaries include Baghua, Dhanei, and Badanadi.

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A new species of damselfly, Euphaea wayanadensis, was discovered in the Wayanad region of Kerala, adding to Kerala’s 191st and the Western Ghats’ 223rd recorded odonate species. The discovery was published in the peer-reviewed journal ENTOMON. Euphaea wayanadensis belongs to the family Euphaeidae. It was first observed in 2013 at the Kalindi River in Thirunelli, Wayanad. Further sightings were made from 2013 to 2019 in Wayanad, and between 2019 and 2023 in Aralam (Kannur) and Coorg (Karnataka). Initially misidentified as Euphaea pseudodispar from Maharashtra, it was later confirmed as a new species through morphological and genetic analysis.