Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers have recorded the World Cup cicada (Chremistica ribhoi) in Assam for the first time, expanding its known distribution. The species is endemic to northeast India and was first described in 2013 from Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya. It is popularly called the “World Cup cicada” because it emerges once every four years, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup cycle. Cicadas spend most of their life underground as nymphs before emerging briefly to reproduce. The discovery provides new insights into the species’ distribution and ecology.

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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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Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered two new spider species: Simonia lawbah and Hamataliwa papikonda. Simonia lawbah is a cave-dwelling ray spider discovered in Krem Lawbah Cave, Meghalaya. It is troglophilic (adapted to cave life) and builds a unique cone-shaped “ray web” to trap insects. Hamataliwa papikonda is a lynx spider discovered in Papikonda National Park, Andhra Pradesh. Unlike web-building spiders, it is an active predator that hunts using speed, agility, and spiny legs.

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Maharashtra announced India’s first proposed AI-enabled bird conservation project at the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, a Ramsar Site. The project uses AI-based surveillance, smart cameras, drones, acoustic sensors, and real-time biodiversity monitoring. AI helps identify bird species and monitor their movement. It also collects real-time ecological data for scientific research.

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Recently, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) about the expanded monitoring of the Sahibi River under the Delhi–Yamuna Drain Monitoring Programme. Sahibi River (also called Sabi River) originates from the Saiwar Protected Forest hills in Sikar district, Rajasthan. It is an ephemeral river, flowing mainly during the monsoon season. It flows through Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, and ultimately joins the Yamuna at Wazirabad through the Najafgarh drain.

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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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Researchers discovered a new freshwater catfish species, named Pseudolaguvia khairii, from the Budhabalanga River in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. The species has been named in honour of Khairi, the legendary orphaned Royal Bengal tigress. Khairi was rescued from the Similipal forests in the 1970s and raised by conservationist Saroj Raj Choudhury and Nihar Nalini Swain. The new fish belongs to the genus Pseudolaguvia, a group of small hillstream catfishes. It is distinguished by a unique fleshy protuberance at the base of its dorsal fin. The discovery highlights the rich but underexplored freshwater biodiversity of India.

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The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) recently disbursed nearly ₹3.79 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism. Madhya Pradesh received the highest state-wise allocation of ₹46.93 lakh. West Bengal received the second-highest amount of ₹44.76 lakh, followed by Odisha with ₹44.08 lakh. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a statutory body established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. It is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The NBA works for the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biological resources, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.

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A loggerhead sea turtle weighing over 100 kg was rescued from the Arabian Sea by the Yellow Gate police patrolling team. The distressed turtle was handed over to RAWW (Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare) for treatment and rehabilitation in coordination with the Mangrove Cell. The loggerhead sea turtle is a large migratory marine reptile known for its massive head and powerful jaws. It is found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. The species is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and plays an important ecological role by consuming hard-shelled marine organisms and recycling nutrients.

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A recent biodiversity survey in Dehing Patkai National Park, Assam, recorded 165 butterfly species, highlighting the rich biodiversity of its rainforest ecosystem. Dehing Patkai National Park is located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. It spread over approximately 234.26 sq km. It forms an important part of the Dehing Patkai rainforest landscape. The park was officially declared a National Park in June 2021. It is dominated by tropical wet evergreen forests and supports diverse flora and fauna, including hoolock gibbon and the endangered white-winged wood duck.