Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Scientists in Australia are deep-freezing koala eggs and sperm to create a genetic backup for future conservation. The initiative aims to protect wild koala populations from possible extinction. The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a marsupial, not a bear, and is endemic to Australia. It is found mainly in eastern Australia, from Queensland to Victoria. Koalas are arboreal and depend primarily on eucalyptus trees for food and shelter. The IUCN Red List classifies the koala as Vulnerable.

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The Supreme Court directed that preventive detention orders may be used against those facilitating illegal sand mining around the National Chambal Sanctuary. National Chambal Sanctuary is also known as the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a tri-state protected riverine sanctuary along the Chambal River. It is located at the tri-junction of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The sanctuary primarily protects the critically endangered Gharial, Red-crowned Roof Turtle, and the endangered Ganges River Dolphin.

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Researchers recently discovered Tetragonula yikhumensis, a new species of stingless bee, in Wokha district, Nagaland. It is named after Yikhum village, where it was first collected. It is a subterranean (underground-nesting) bee and is the largest stingless bee recorded in India. The discovery increases the number of stingless bee species in India from 25 to 26. The Lotha community locally calls it “Litsuk” (ground bee) and values its honey and bee pollen for medicinal purposes.

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Recently, camera-trap evidence confirmed the return of the Dhole (Asiatic wild dog) to Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary. Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Udalguri and Baksa districts of Assam. It lies in the eastern Himalayan foothills and shares the India–Bhutan international border. The sanctuary is named after the Bornadi River, which forms its western boundary. The Nalapara River, originating in Bhutan, flows along the sanctuary’s eastern boundary.

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The Malvi camel, a rare indigenous camel breed, is facing the threat of extinction, prompting conservation efforts by the National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC). It is one of the nine recognised camel breeds in India. It is mainly found in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan (Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, and Baran). The breed is valued for both draught work and milk production, with females producing about 4–5 kg of milk per cycle. It is the smallest camel breed in India and is known for its distinct white colour. Malvi camels are well adapted to semi-arid and moderately humid climates.

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Scientists discovered a new species of blind, blood-red eel named Rakthamichthys anchi in Goalpara district, Assam. The species was found in dug-out groundwater wells and is phreatobitic, living exclusively in groundwater aquifers. The eel is blind and lacks body pigment; its blood-red colour is due to visible blood vessels beneath transparent skin. The word “anchi” means “blood” in the Garo language. Rakthamichthys is an endemic Indian genus of swamp eels. Rakthamichthys anchi is the second species of the genus discovered in Northeast India.

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The Supreme Court directed a 10-km mining buffer zone around all Wetland Conservation Reserves in India. The order extends the buffer first applied to the Asan Conservation Reserve in Uttarakhand to similar protected wetlands across the country. Asan Conservation Reserve is the first Ramsar Site of Uttarakhand. It covers 444.4 hectares in Dehradun, at the confluence of the Asan and Yamuna rivers. The reserve lies on the Central Asian Flyway, an important route for migratory birds. It supports 330 bird species, including several globally threatened species.

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Ladakh has approved India’s first-ever guided high-altitude wildlife safari. The safari will cover Hemis National Park, Changthang, and Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary. It will focus on snow leopard sightings and bird-watching trails during the winter season. The safari will be operated by trained local youth to promote sustainable ecotourism. The initiative aims to conserve and showcase Ladakh’s rich high-altitude biodiversity, including around 340 bird species.

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A new begonia species, Begonia neelamorum, has been discovered in Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh, taking the Northeast’s recorded begonia species tally to 54. The species was found on steep, moist rock walls along the Keyi River at around 1,000 metres elevation. It was named Begonia neelamorum in honour of the Neelam clan of the Nyishi tribe, whose members helped researchers during the difficult expedition. The plant is locally known as Kobiirhopu Baabrai and grows about 10–20 cm tall, with a single serrated leaf and white flowers. Researchers classified the species as Data Deficient and recommended further surveys and conservation efforts.

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Hurricane Lala, a Category 1 tropical cyclone, struck Hawaii’s Big Island, bringing strong winds and torrential rainfall. The storm became the third-wettest tropical cyclone to affect the U.S. state of Hawaii, causing severe flooding and mudslides. Lala produced rainfall of up to 63 cm, while maximum sustained winds reached around 120 km/h. The event was particularly significant as it marked the first direct hurricane strike on the Big Island in more than 150 years.