Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change declared Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the Aravalli mountain range as an Eco-Sensitive Zone. The move aims to conserve the area’s flora and fauna and support indigenous communities living nearby. Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Aravalli mountain range, a significant hill system in western India, covering parts of Rajasthan’s Rajsamand, Pali, and Udaipur districts. The 0–1 km area around the sanctuary hosts leopards, striped hyenas, jungle cats, Indian pangolins, blue bulls, chinkaras, and birds like painted francolin.

Notes:
Researchers discovered a new wildflower species named Lepidagathis konkanensis in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It was found in Ratnagiri district during a floristic survey of lateritic plateaus, which are iron-rich and harsh habitats. The species is currently known from a very small area of less than 65 square kilometres. The name honours the Konkan region, which is isolated by the Arabian Sea and Sahyadri Mountains. Scientists recommend its status as Data Deficient under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
A new orchid species named Diplocentrum papillosum was discovered in Kanthalloor, Marayoor, in the Idukki district of Kerala. It belongs to the Diplocentrum genus, which is found only in the southern part of the Western Ghats. The orchid grows on rocks and tree branches and has strong roots to survive high winds. The name papillosum refers to the papillose, or small bump-like, texture of its flowers. It has unbranched flower clusters with pink and white, fragrant, and eye-catching blooms.

Notes:
A giant female reticulated python found in Sulawesi, Indonesia, is confirmed by Guinness World Records as the longest measured snake at 7.22 metres. The reticulated python belongs to the Pythonidae family and its scientific name is Malayopython reticulatus. It is the world’s longest snake and the third heaviest after the green anaconda and Burmese python. It is a non-venomous constrictor that kills prey by tightening its coils. It is native to South and Southeast Asia, living in tropical forests of India, Indonesia, and nearby regions. Its conservation status is Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
A third tigress was recently released into the wild at Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR), boosting tiger conservation in western Maharashtra. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) is located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, and is the northernmost tiger habitat in the Western Ghats. It is the first tiger reserve of Western Maharashtra and the fourth in the state.

Notes:
New aquaculture tanks were reportedly dug inside Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary after illegal tanks were earlier demolished following Supreme Court orders. Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary is located in West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh. It was established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It covers about 308 square kilometre of wetlands and marshes. It protects Kolleru Lake, declared a Ramsar Site of International Importance in 2002. Lake receives water from Budameru and Tammileru rivers and 67 drains linked to Krishna and Godavari river systems.

Notes:
Researchers have discovered a new species of Asian grass lizard named Takydromus ultapanensis. The species was found in the Ultapani Reserve Forest located in Kokrajhar district, within Assam’s Manas Biosphere landscape. Unlike many related lizard species found in montane or subtropical habitats, T. ultapanensis inhabits lowland, semi-evergreen forests mixed with waterlogged grasslands and fern patches. Researchers observed the lizards basking on fern bushes in small open patches crisscrossed by seasonal water channels. The discovery emphasizes the biodiversity significance of Assam’s Manas Biosphere landscape and the need for protection of its unique habitats.

Notes:
Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Madhya Pradesh and spans across three districts—Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur. It covers about 1187 square kilometres, making it the largest wildlife sanctuary in the state. The sanctuary lies on a plateau in the Upper Vindhyan Range, providing suitable habitat for wildlife. It functions as an ecological corridor linking Panna Tiger Reserve, Satpura Tiger Reserve, and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The region belongs to the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic zone, supporting diverse forests and fauna. It is planned to receive cheetahs soon under India’s cheetah reintroduction efforts to expand suitable habitats for the species

Notes:
The Western Tragopan has drawn attention due to declining populations in the western Himalayas. It is a rare pheasant species endemic to the Western Himalayas. It is the state bird of Himachal Pradesh and locally called Jujurana meaning “King of Birds.” The bird lives in temperate and subalpine forests with dense undergrowth. It usually occurs at elevations of about 2,400–3,600 metres. Its range includes Uttarakhand, Kashmir, and parts of Pakistan.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu Government sealed 42 illegal resorts in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) to protect its eco-sensitive zone. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, acting as a vital corridor between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. It is contiguous with Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and BRT Tiger Reserve, and forms part of the Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve with a large Asian elephant population.