Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Madhya Pradesh will establish Nauradehi Sanctuary as the third home for cheetahs, after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. Cheetahs will be brought from Namibia (Africa) and released into Nauradehi to expand conservation efforts. The state is actively working on wildlife conservation, including releasing six crocodiles (four females, two males) into the Indira Sagar Dam on the Narmada River. A gharial conservation campaign is ongoing, and some gharials will be sent to Assam on request. Plans are underway for a new Omkareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 61,407 hectares across Khandwa and Dewas districts.

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Continuous floods at the Prakasam Barrage on the Krishna River have forced the closure of Bhavani Island and suspension of boat services, affecting tourism revenue. Bhavani Island, located near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, is one of India’s largest river islands. The Krishna River, 1,400 km long, originates near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and flows through Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before entering the Bay of Bengal. Its basin covers about 2.59 lakh sq. km, the second largest in peninsular India after the Godavari.

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A new species of jumping spider named Pilia malenadu was recently discovered in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It was found in Madhugundi, located in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. The species belongs to the Pilia genus of jumping spiders. It was named “Pilia malenadu” to honour the region where it was discovered. This is a historic find as the last Pilia species was recorded 123 years ago in 1902 in Kerala. For the first time, researchers found both male and female spiders of this genus.

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Typhoon Kalmaegi recently made landfall in the central Philippines. Typhoons are tropical cyclones that form over the Western Pacific Ocean. A tropical cyclone is a rotating storm system developing over warm tropical oceans, varying in speed, size, and intensity. These storms are known by different names globally — Hurricanes in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, Cyclones in the Indian Ocean, and Willy-willies in Western Australia.

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Recently, a farmer was killed in a tiger attack near Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary in Mysuru, Karnataka. Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Mysuru district, Karnataka. It covers about 30 sq.km and includes the Nugu Reservoir in its northern part. Nugu Dam is built across the Nugu River, a tributary of the Cauvery River.

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In November 2025, a proposed 50-Megawatt (MW) wind farm by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) was reported to potentially affect the Greater Flamingo Sanctuary (GFS). The Greater Flamingo’s range covers Africa, western Asia, and southern Europe. It breeds in shallow, saline, and alkaline wetlands. The Greater Flamingo Sanctuary (GFS) is located in Tamil Nadu, specifically in Dhanushkodi within the Ramanathapuram district. It is part of the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.

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Recently, the Assam State Zoo team reported the first case of albinism in the checkered keelback, also called the Asian water snake. The checkered keelback is a medium-sized non-venomous snake native to Asia. It is widely found across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It lives in freshwater habitats like ponds, marshes, and rice fields. It is listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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Semeru Volcano on Indonesia’s main island of Java erupted recently, sending ash and gas kilometres into the sky and prompting officials to raise the alert to the highest level. It is located in East Java, Indonesia, and is one of the country’s most active volcanoes. At 3,676 metres (12,060 feet), it is the highest peak on Java and part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. The volcano lies at the southern end of a volcanic massif extending north to the Tengger caldera. Its summit shifts from northwest to southeast, creating complex topography.

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Scientists have discovered a new owlfly species in Kerala after 134 years, named Protidricerus albocapitatus, marking a major entomological finding. It was found in the Nedumkayam forest in the Malappuram district of Kerala. The species belongs to the family Myrmeleontidae and the order Neuroptera. With this discovery, Kerala now has five known owlfly species, and India’s total has increased to 37 species. The owlfly has a white tufted head and clubbed antennae, making it easily identifiable.

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Bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis spinipes) has been rediscovered in India after 72 years, in Karnataka and Odisha. The rediscovery was by researchers from Centre for Climate Change Studies, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai. Bamboo shrimp are filter feeders, using fan-like limb structures to capture edible particles from flowing water. It is a medium-sized freshwater shrimp native to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.