Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Critically endangered yellow-crested cockatoos have found refuge in Hong Kong’s urban parks, making up nearly 10% of the global wild population of just 2,000 mature birds. The species is native to Indonesia and East Timor. These snow-white birds with yellow crests now face nesting problems as old trees are lost to typhoons and government trimming. Global threats like illegal pet trade and climate change also worsen their survival. Conservationists in Hong Kong have begun installing artificial nest boxes, with one pair already using them. The project aims to expand to 50 boxes, helping the species survive in the city.

Notes:
The Forest Department has registered a case on the mysterious deaths of nine Bonnet macaques near Palode in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. They are arboreal and terrestrial quadrupeds and are diurnal meaning active during the day. They are distributed in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. They play an ecological role by dispersing seeds that help forest regeneration. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed them as Vulnerable.

Notes:
After a four-year years, a pair of painted storks was spotted in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR). Painted storks are large wading birds belonging to the stork family. They are found across tropical Asia from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia, south of the Himalayas. Habitat includes freshwater wetlands, irrigation canals, and flooded agricultural fields, especially during monsoon. They are non-migratory and make short-distance movements for food, weather, or breeding. Conservation Status is Near Threatened under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
The rare European bird Ortolan Bunting was recently spotted at Baruipur, West Bengal, marking only its second sighting in Bengal. It is a small Palearctic migrant songbird that travels long distances during migration. It is found across Europe, extending east to Mongolia and north to the Arctic Circle. It lives in open cultivated or uncultivated areas with few trees and completely avoids forests. The oceanic climate does not suit it. Its conservation status is Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
A 59-year-old woman was recently killed by a saltwater crocodile in the Kharasrota River in Odisha. Kharasrota River is a tributary of the Brahmani River, a major east-flowing river in Odisha. The river originates from the Eastern Ghats in Keonjhar district. It flows through Jajpur and Kendrapara districts before joining the Brahmani River near the Dhamra estuary, close to the Bay of Bengal. The river passes through the Bhitarkanika region, an ecologically sensitive mangrove area known for saltwater crocodiles. Kharasrota River is a lifeline for irrigation and drinking water in Jajpur and Kendrapara districts.

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The Shi-Yomi district administration in Arunachal Pradesh will hold an environmental public hearing on November 12 for the 1,000 MW Naying Hydroelectric Project at Yapik community hall. The project is a run-of-the-river hydropower project on the Siyom (Yomgo) River in Arunachal Pradesh, to be implemented by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO). It includes a concrete dam, underground powerhouse, and tunnels, with construction likely to begin in 2028 and commissioning by 2032. The project will produce 4,966.77 GWh of electricity annually. The Siyom River, a right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, flows through Arunachal Pradesh, with Mouling National Park on its east bank.

Notes:
Six new species of dragonflies and damselflies were recently discovered in Silent Valley National Park during an odonate survey. The park is located in the southwest corner of the Nilgiris, Kerala. It is one of India’s last undisturbed tropical rainforests and a core part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is nourished by the Kunthipuzha River and is called “silent” due to the absence of cicadas. The forest hosts four vegetation types, over 1000 flowering plant species, and rare medicinal plants.

Notes:
Kashmir’s first Chrysanthemum garden has recently been opened for tourists. Chrysanthemum is a genus of about 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Asia and northeastern Europe and blooms in autumn. The plant grows 50–150 cm tall with deeply lobed leaves and large flowerheads in white, yellow, or pink. It thrives in subtropical and temperate areas with tropical and subtropical climate.

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The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has recently released funds to Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim. NBA is a statutory and autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It was established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The headquarters of NBA is located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. NBA performs facilitative, regulatory, and advisory functions for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. It also ensures fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.

Notes:
The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has sought records from the Forest and Revenue Departments and the Angul Collector regarding alleged irregularities in village relocation at Satkosia Tiger Reserve. Satkosia Tiger Reserve is located in central Odisha across Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, and Nayagarh districts. The reserve includes Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, divided by the Mahanadi River. It is also part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve. It lies at the junction of the Deccan Peninsula and Eastern Ghats, creating rich biodiversity.