Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The rare Kashmir Flycatcher was recently spotted in the wetlands of Chemmattamavayal wetlands, Kerala. It is a small passerine bird belonging to the Muscicapidae flycatcher family. The species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and mainly breeds in the Kashmir region of the northwest Himalayas. It is a migratory bird that winters in the high-altitude Nilgiris of the Western Ghats and also in Sri Lanka. Due to habitat loss and declining population, the species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The sighting highlights the ecological importance of Kerala’s wetlands for migratory birds.

Notes:
Researchers at Catholicate College discovered a new species of green algae named Interfilum shuklaii in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The species is named after Shubhanshu Shukla. It is the first reported discovery of the genus Interfilum from India. The genus has importance in biotechnology, carbon sequestration, biofertilizer development, and future space life-support systems due to its stress tolerance and efficient biomass production.

Notes:
Gynacantha khasiaca, a rare dragonfly species commonly known as the long-tailed duskhawker, was recently recorded in Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve. It marks the first confirmed record of the species from Arunachal Pradesh in 110 years. Outside India, the species has been reported from Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. In India, earlier sightings were reported from Assam, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. The dragonfly is known for its elusive duskhawker behaviour, including vertical hanging beneath dense vegetation.

Notes:
A survey to estimate the population of the Indian giant squirrel has started in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is located in the northern Western Ghats across Pune, Thane, and Raigad districts of Maharashtra. It is named after Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.MBhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985.

Notes:
The recent Wayanad landslides led to bodies and debris being carried downstream into the Chaliyar River, resulting in extensive search operations. Chaliyar River, also known as the Beypore River, is one of the major west-flowing rivers of Kerala. The river originates from the Ilambaleri Hills of the Nilgiri Mountains near the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border. It flows through Wayanad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode districts before draining into the Arabian Sea near Beypore.

Notes:
A rare sighting of the Giant Malabar Squirrel was recently reported in the Devpur forest area of Barnawapara forest in Chhattisgarh. The Giant Malabar Squirrel, also known as the Indian Giant Squirrel, is a large multicoloured tree squirrel species endemic to India and is among the world’s largest squirrels. It is mainly found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and Satpura Range. The Giant Malabar Squirrel is the state animal of Maharashtra and is locally known as “Shekru.” According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, its conservation status is “Least Concern.”

Notes:
The Kshipra river system in Madhya Pradesh is facing a major crisis due to the drying up of its tributaries and declining perennial flow. The Kshipra, also known as the Shipra River, is an important tributary of the Chambal River. It originates from the Vindhya Range near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and flows across the Malwa Plateau before joining the Chambal River. Major tributaries of the Kshipra River are the Khan and Gambhir rivers. The river is considered sacred in Hinduism and is regarded as holy as the Ganga River.

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India recently ordered the removal of encroachments and demolition of illegal structures in the Agasthyamalai landscape. The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is located in the southern part of the Western Ghats across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves under UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme in 2016. The biosphere reserve is known for its rich biodiversity and ecological significance in the Western Ghats region.

Notes:
Indian botanists discovered a new species of flowering plant, Crotalaria phulei, in the Khairi-Umred forest near Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is named after Savitribai Phule, India’s first woman teacher. The species belongs to the Fabaceae (legume) family. It is an undershrub that grows up to 1.5 metres in height. The plant produces pods with distinctive mottled creamy-olive seeds. It closely resembles Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria shrirangiana.

Notes:
According to the third synchronised population survey, the population of the Nilgiri Tahr has increased to 1,364. The Nilgiri Tahr is an endangered mountain ungulate endemic to the Western Ghats. It is also known as the Nilgiri Ibex and locally called Varayaadu. It is the only mountain ungulate in southern India. The species is found in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with the largest population in Eravikulam National Park.