Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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A New Delhi court convicted an art gallery owner for attempting to illegally export Shahtoosh shawls, made from the Tibetan Antelope. The Tibetan antelope (chiru) is a medium-sized migratory antelope, with males having horns and black leg stripes. It has a fine undercoat (Shahtoosh wool) beneath long guard hair, making it highly prized and endangered. It inhabits cold alpine and steppe regions of Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai (China), and Changthang (Ladakh, India). It is a migratory species, travelling up to 400 km between seasonal habitats. It is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

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The Colorado River is a major river of North America, often called the “Lifeline of the Southwest.” It originates in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, United States, and flows about 1,450 miles (2,330 kilometres) into the Gulf of California in Mexico. The river flows through seven U.S. states and two Mexican states, draining a vast arid and semi-arid region. It also forms part of the international boundary between Arizona (USA) and Mexico. It forms major reservoirs such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell, crucial for water supply and hydropower. Recent research highlights changing hydrological patterns, explaining declining water levels in the river system.

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Ulsoor Lake has recently undergone desilting after more than three decades, but lake conservation activists criticised the decision to remove silt by only 0.6 metres, calling it inadequate. Also known as Halasuru Lake, it is a man-made lake and is considered the oldest and largest lake in Bengaluru. The lake was built in 1648 by Kempe Gowda II and was later renovated in 1862 by Sir Lewin Bentham Bowring. Ulsoor Lake has an irregular shape resembling the map of India and contains seven islands connected by bridges.

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Scientists from ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources discovered a new freshwater fish species, Labeo kaage, from the Shivanasamudra stretch of the Cauvery River basin in Karnataka. The name “kaage” comes from the Kannada word for crow, referring to the fish’s dark body colour. Locally, it is known as “kaage meenu” in Karnataka. It is among the newly discovered dark-coloured Labeo species from the Western Ghats region. In 2025, scientists also discovered Labeo chekida from Kerala’s Chalakkudy River and Labeo uru from the Chandragiri River.

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The ‘Lion’ Species Spotlight Event was inaugurated at Sasan Gir, Gujarat, as part of the pre-summit events for the International Big Cat Alliance Summit 2026. India will host the first IBCA Summit 2026 in New Delhi on June 1–2, 2026. International Big Cat Alliance focuses on conservation of seven big cat species — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. The event highlighted India’s successful Asiatic lion conservation efforts and promoted international cooperation among lion range countries. The estimated Asiatic lion population in the Greater Gir Landscape increased to 891 individuals in 2025, showing a 32% rise since 2020.

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Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary witnessed sightings of Himalayan brown bears, reviving conservation interest in the region. The sanctuary is located in Himachal Pradesh and is also known as the Sangla Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lamkhanga Pass trekking route passes through the sanctuary. Lamkhanga Pass connects Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh with the Gangotri region of Uttarakhand.

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Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new leopard gecko species named Eublepharis jhuma in the rocky hills near Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bihar. It is the first leopard gecko species recorded in Bihar. The species was named after Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman Director of the Zoological Survey of India, whose nickname is “Jhuma.” The gecko has unique physical and genetic characteristics, including distinctive scales, toe lamellae, and tail regeneration patterns. It is a medium-sized reptile with a dark brown body marked by pale spotted bands.

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Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as a second habitat for the Asiatic Lion to reduce extinction risks associated with concentrating the entire wild population in Gir Forest. The sanctuary is located in the Barda Hills near Porbandar in Gujarat. Historically, it served as a private hunting ground for the royal families of Jamnagar and Porbandar. The sanctuary features hilly terrain surrounded by forests, wastelands, and agricultural land.

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Scientists discovered a new species of burrowing snake named Trachischium lalremsangai near the India–Myanmar border. The species was found in Murlen National Park, located within the Indo–Burma biodiversity hotspot. The snake was named after Dr. Lalremsanga for his major contributions to herpetology in Northeast India. The snake is characterised by smooth iridescent scales, a brown body, a white-speckled underside, and a unique head-scale arrangement. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of Northeast India and the ecological importance of Mizoram’s forest ecosystems.

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The rare Kashmir Flycatcher was recently spotted in the wetlands of Chemmattamavayal wetlands, Kerala. It is a small passerine bird belonging to the Muscicapidae flycatcher family. The species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and mainly breeds in the Kashmir region of the northwest Himalayas. It is a migratory bird that winters in the high-altitude Nilgiris of the Western Ghats and also in Sri Lanka. Due to habitat loss and declining population, the species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The sighting highlights the ecological importance of Kerala’s wetlands for migratory birds.