Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A Falcated Duck was recently spotted at Sultanpur National Park, Gurugram, Haryana. It is also known as falcated teal. The duck is a gadwall-sized dabbling species, found from eastern Siberia to northern Japan, wintering in Southeast Asia and eastern India. They inhabit freshwater lakes, ponds, and marshes, usually surrounded by forests. Falcated ducks are mainly herbivorous, feeding on plants, seeds, and occasionally small invertebrates. They are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Notes:
The “One Plate, One Bag” campaign was launched at the Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj, to promote a plastic-free event. Cloth bags and steel plates and glasses are being distributed to replace plastic and disposable items. Around 70,000 cloth bags have been distributed from six centers so far. More than 2 million steel plates and glasses collected nationwide are being supplied to langars and food outlets. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath urged pilgrims to adopt eco-friendly practices and avoid single-use plastic during the pilgrimage.

Notes:
A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) study revealed that the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions caused the largest human-induced methane release ever recorded. Nord Stream is a key natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, connecting Vyborg, Russia, to Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany. It is a twin pipeline system designed to ensure energy security for Europe, especially Germany. The pipeline provides a direct and reliable gas supply from Russia, bypassing transit countries.

Notes:
Scientists discovered a new species of ‘supergiant’ sea bug in Vietnam, named Bathynomus vaderi, due to its resemblance to Darth Vader’s helmet. This species can grow up to 32.5 cm and weigh over a kilogram, making it one of the largest isopods. These sea bugs have become a delicacy in Vietnam, raising concerns about overfishing due to their slow reproduction rate.

Notes:
Black kites were recently found nesting in a tower structure in Chennai. They are medium-sized birds of prey from the Accipitridae family. Unlike other raptors, they are opportunistic hunters, often gliding in thermals to search for food. They have brown plumage, dark wingtips, bead-like dark brown eyes, and a hooked black beak. Their habitat ranges from wetlands and coasts to grasslands and woodlands. They are mainly found in tropical regions of Australasia, Eurasia, and Africa. They are monogamous and form lifelong pair bonds.

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India’s first bio bank will be set up at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in West Bengal, in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). This facility will preserve cell and tissue samples from endangered animals, including reproductive cells from deceased ones. The samples will be used for future research and could help in efforts to revive critically endangered or extinct species.

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Barda Dungar Sanctuary has been officially declared the second habitat for Asiatic lions under Project Lion. 17 lions, including six adults and 11 cubs, now inhabit Barda Wildlife Sanctuary. The idea of Barda as a lion habitat was proposed in 1993 during a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) workshop. Project Lion, launched on August 15, 2020, aims to conserve and expand the Asiatic lion population. The 10-year project has a budget of Rs 2,927.71 crore and focuses on habitat management and community participation.

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A Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, was recently sighted in Dehing Patkai National Park using a camera trap. The park is located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. Known as the ‘Amazon of the East’, it has India’s largest stretch of tropical lowland rainforests covering 231.65 sq. km. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2004 and upgraded to a national park in 2020. The park is home to diverse ethnic groups, including Tai Phake, Singpho, Ahom, and Moran.

Notes:
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, has set up India’s first frozen zoo to store genetic material of Himalayan species. It is a collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. The zoo preserves DNA, sperm, eggs, and embryos in liquid nitrogen at -196°C for future conservation. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP), also known as Darjeeling Zoo, is located in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

Notes:
Karnataka Forest Department will ‘soft release’ captured elephants into Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary to reduce human-elephant conflicts in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts of Karnataka. It is named after the Bhadra River, which flows through the sanctuary. Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1951 and became a Project Tiger Reserve in 1998. It was the first tiger reserve in India to complete a village relocation program by 2002.