Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new wild kiwi species, Actinidia indica, in Arunachal Pradesh. The species is found only in a limited area near Ziro Valley, growing in a transition zone between temperate and subtropical forests. It is a perennial climbing shrub with hairy young branches, large ovate leaves, and white to creamy flowers. The plant produces olive-green globose fruits with a unique reticulate lenticel pattern, which helps in its identification. This discovery adds to the global diversity of Actinidia species, of which only a few are found in India.

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The Assam Government is planning to create a new Reserved Forest adjacent to Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur district, Assam, to strengthen conservation efforts. Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, Assam and is part of the Laokhowa–Burhachapori ecosystem. It lies strategically between Kaziranga National Park (east), Orang National Park (west), and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (south). The region experiences a sub-tropical monsoon climate, supporting rich biodiversity.

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Zoological Survey of India recently discovered a new marine crab species named Chhapgarus ngankeeae from the mangroves of Goa. The species is named in honour of the late Ngan Kee Ng, a noted marine biologist from the National University of Singapore. It is found in muddy intertidal mangrove forests along the west coast of India. Mangrove crabs, including Chhapgarus ngankeeae, play an important ecological role by recycling nutrients and supporting coastal food chains.

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UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has advised that the Aghanashini–Vedavathi river linking project must follow World Heritage conservation norms. Aghanashini River originates from Gadihalli in Sirsi, Karnataka at about 676 m in the Western Ghats. Its name means “Remover of Sins” and it is one of the few free-flowing rivers. It has a catchment area of about 1449 sq km and flows around 117 km. It drains into the Arabian Sea at Tadri in Karnataka.

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The Hudsonian godwit population has declined by 95% in the last four decades due to environmental changes. It is a large migratory shorebird belonging to the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. It breeds in sub-Arctic and Boreal wetland habitats like sedge meadows and muskeg. It is found mainly in North America and South America. It feeds on insects and crustaceans in shallow water. It migrates annually from the Arctic to Patagonia for the southern summer. Major threats include habitat loss and climate change. It is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

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Rice’s Whale is a baleen whale belonging to the family Balaenopteridae and is closely related to Bryde’s whales. It was recognised as a distinct species in 2021, separate from other Bryde’s whales globally. It is the only whale species found year-round in the Gulf of Mexico. Its diet mainly consists of silver-rag driftfish. Major threats include oil drilling, vessel strikes, noise pollution, oil spills, and climate change. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is classified as Critically Endangered.

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Gangotri National Park recently reopened after a six-month winter break, highlighting seasonal conservation management in the Himalayan region. It is located in Uttarakhand, along the upper catchment of the Bhagirathi River. The park’s northeastern boundary touches China (Tibet Autonomous Region). It shares borders with Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Govind National Park.

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Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered two new species of free-living marine nematodes off the coast of Tamil Nadu named Corononema dhriti and Epacanthion indica. Corononema dhriti is the fourth known species of its genus, previously recorded only in Australia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Epacanthion indica is a microscopic predator with specialized mandibles and teeth, feeding within the benthic food web. Marine nematodes play a key role in nutrient cycling, sediment health, and act as bio-indicators for environmental and climate change.

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The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has proposed an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of 663.32 square kilometres around the Kali Tiger Reserve to regulate activities and protect biodiversity. Kali Tiger Reserve is located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats. It comprises two contiguous protected areas: Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park, forming a single ecological landscape. It is connected to Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary and further to Radhanagari and Koyna wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra, ensuring wildlife corridors.

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Calamaria garoensis is a newly discovered species of burrowing reed snake identified in the West Garo Hills of Meghalaya. It is currently endemic to the Garo Hills, indicating a restricted geographical distribution. It belongs to the genus Calamaria, known for small, secretive, and burrowing snakes. Reed snakes are non-venomous, slender, and fossorial (adapted to underground life). They are typically brown, reddish, or blackish in appearance.