Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Mount Dukono recently erupted, sending an ash column up to 1,400 meters above its summit. It is an active volcano located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku, Indonesia. The volcano has a broad, low profile with multiple summit peaks and overlapping craters. It lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire. Since 1933, it has shown continuous volcanic activity with frequent eruptions and ash emissions. Its eruptions are both explosive and effusive, producing lava flows and mudflows.

Notes:
The Maharashtra Forest Department has reviewed a proposal to increase the annual ticket rates for Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Sanjay Gandhi National Park is located near Borivali, Maharashtra, spanning Thane and Mumbai Suburban districts. Initially called Krishnagiri National Park, it was renamed Borivali National Park in 1974 and later Sanjay Gandhi National Park in 1981. It covers about 103 square kilometres, forming nearly 20% of Mumbai’s total geographical area. The Kanheri Caves (9th century Before Common Era to 1st century Before Common Era) are ancient Buddhist rock-cut structures.

Notes:
Scientists recently discovered three new plant species in the Eastern Ghats region of Andhra Pradesh. Euphorbia ananthapuramensis is a shrubby plant species found in Nigidi Forest of Sri Sathya Sai district, where it grows among granite rocks. Euphorbia chalamensis is a small annual herb discovered in Chalama Forest of Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary. Both Euphorbia species possess medicinal properties and are used by tribal communities to treat wounds, skin diseases, and digestive disorders. Ceropegia andhrica is a dwarf tuberous herb discovered in the Paderu Forest Division of Alluri Sitharamaraju district. The plant flowers after the first rains between May and June and later produces edible potato-like tubers.

Notes:
India’s first Human-Elephant Conflict Research Centre will be established at Palamu Tiger Reserve. The tiger reserve is located on the Chhotanagpur Plateau in Jharkhand and forms part of Betla National Park. Palamu was among the first nine tiger reserves created under Project Tiger. It was also the first reserve in the world where a tiger census was conducted through the pugmark counting method in 1932. The reserve has an undulating terrain consisting of valleys, hills, plains, granite, limestone, and gneiss formations.

Notes:
Assam recently carried out the first legally approved export of agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Agarwood is a highly valuable fragrant wood used in perfumes, incense, and traditional medicines. The export marks an important step in promoting Assam’s aromatic and forest-based products in international markets. The move is expected to benefit local growers and boost legal trade in agarwood products. It grows naturally in Northeast India, mainly in Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.

Notes:
Project Cheetah was reviewed in a high-level meeting chaired by Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav. The project aims to reintroduce cheetahs in India after their extinction. India initially translocated 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa, later supplemented by 9 cheetahs from Botswana. The current cheetah population in India has reached 53, including 33 Indian-born cheetahs. Kuno National Park is the primary habitat, while Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as an additional site. Preparations are also underway in the Banni Grasslands and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary for future expansion.

Notes:
Indian Skimmer was recently sighted along a 60-kilometre stretch of the Ganga River under the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary after nearly two decades. The sighting indicates significant improvement in the ecological health of the river ecosystem in Bhagalpur district. The Indian Skimmer is a specialised riverine bird known for skimming the water surface with its elongated lower mandible to catch fish. The Indian Skimmer is considered an indicator species of healthy river ecosystems and is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Notes:
Researchers rediscovered Vaccinium piliferum in the forests of Vijoynagar in Arunachal Pradesh after nearly 188 years. The species was found in Changlang district near tributaries of the Noa-Dihing River in the Eastern Himalayan region. Vaccinium piliferum is a rare and endangered wild relative of blueberry species and belongs to the Ericaceae family, which also includes cranberries. The plant was originally recorded in 1836 during the colonial period. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the species as Endangered.

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:
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.”