Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India rediscovered the rare plant Henckelia monophylla after about 189 years. The species is endemic to Arunachal Pradesh and belongs to the Gesneriaceae. It was first collected in 1836 by British botanist William Griffith in the Mishmi Hills. It is a perennial herb growing in moist forest habitats. Plants of genus Henckelia usually have upright or slightly trailing stems with simple ovate or lance-shaped leaves.

Notes:
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve will translocate around 50 wild Asiatic water buffaloes to Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh in phases. The aim is to support species conservation and create a viable population in a new habitat. Kanha Tiger Reserve is located in the Maikal ranges of the Satpura Hills in Madhya Pradesh. It has an active wildlife corridor with Pench Tiger Reserve, ensuring animal movement and genetic diversity. Kanha is also connected to Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh, forming a larger conservation landscape.

Notes:
A recent survey of the Hindon River has revealed alarming water quality concerns, with preliminary tests showing zero dissolved oxygen (DO) at multiple locations, making the river “uninhabitable” for most aquatic life. The Hindon River is a tributary of the Yamuna River, flowing through parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. It originates in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, in the Siwalik Hills, at an elevation of approximately 800 meters (2,625 feet) above sea level. The river flows across the industrial belt of Western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana before merging with the Yamuna near Noida, covering a total length of 400 km. Its main tributaries include the Kali (West) River and the Krishni River.

Notes:
Zoological Survey of India recently discovered a new marine crab species named Chhapgarus ngankeeae from the mangroves of Goa. The species is named in honour of the late Ngan Kee Ng, a noted marine biologist from the National University of Singapore. It is found in muddy intertidal mangrove forests along the west coast of India. Mangrove crabs, including Chhapgarus ngankeeae, play an important ecological role by recycling nutrients and supporting coastal food chains.

Notes:
At the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, about 40 new species were added to the protected list category. The convention, also known as the Bonn Convention, is an environmental treaty under the United Nations Environment Programme. It provides a global framework for conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. The convention was signed in Bonn, Germany on 23 June 1979.

Notes:
Snowy Owl has been granted international protection under the U.N. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. It is a large white owl of the true owl family, mainly inhabiting Arctic tundra regions. It is found across Arctic areas of North America and Eurasia, and also in open habitats like grasslands and coastal dunes. Unlike most owls, it is active during both day and night and shows nomadic behaviour. It feeds on small mammals like lemmings and voles using a swooping hunting technique. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is classified as Vulnerable.

Notes:
Recently, a rare Indian giant flying squirrel was spotted in Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, indicating rich biodiversity and possible range extension. The reserve is located in Chhattisgarh and was formed by combining the Udanti and Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuaries. Its river system is dominated by the Mahanadi River, along with tributaries like Udanti, Sitanadi, Indravati, and Pairi. It forms a critical forest corridor connecting to Indravati Tiger Reserve, aiding wildlife movement.

Notes:
A rare melanistic (black-coloured) spotted deer (chital) was recently sighted at the Umred Pauni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary near Nagpur. The sanctuary is located across Pauni tehsil in Bhandara district and Umred, Kuhi, and Bhivapur talukas of Nagpur district in Maharashtra. It is bounded along the northeast by the Wainganga River and the Gose Khurd Dam. The forest corridor along the Wainganga River connects this sanctuary with the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, aiding wildlife movement and ecological connectivity.

Notes:
International Union for Conservation of Nature has upgraded the Emperor Penguin and Antarctic Fur Seal to the Endangered category due to climate change impacts. Climate change in Antarctica is causing sea-ice loss, threatening emperor penguins that depend on stable “fast ice” for breeding and moulting. Emperor penguin populations have declined significantly, with projections indicating up to 50% reduction by the 2080s. Antarctic fur seal populations have dropped by over 50% since 1999 due to reduced food availability as krill shifts deeper warming oceans.

Notes:
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.