Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Seven endangered Golden Langurs rescued from wildlife traffickers were recently released into Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park. The Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei), also known as Gee’s Golden Langur, is an Old World monkey found only in western Assam and southern Bhutan. Its distribution is restricted between the Bhutan foothills, Manas River, Sankosh River, and Brahmaputra River.It inhabits moist evergreen, tropical deciduous, and riverine forests, spending most of its life in the upper forest canopy. It is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Notes:
The Prime Minister highlighted the conservation efforts of the ‘Hargila Army’, a group of rural women in Assam working to protect the Hargila Bird. The Hargila Bird, also known as the Greater Adjutant Stork, is a large stork species. In India, it is mainly found in Assam and Bihar, while it is also found in Cambodia. It inhabits wetlands, shallow lakes, drying lake beds, and freshwater flooded forests. It is an omnivorous scavenger that also feeds on frogs, insects, reptiles, birds, and rodents. The species faces threats from habitat loss, wetland drainage, and pollution. Its conservation status is Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
Borjuli Wetland in Sonitpur district, Assam, has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS). It is known for conserving wild rice (Oryza rufipogon), the wild ancestor of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa). Oryza rufipogon possesses pest and disease resistance and tolerance to flooding and salinity, making it important for developing climate-resilient rice varieties. The recognition follows the In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice project, implemented since 2022. The project is funded by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) and implemented by ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board.

Notes:
Recently, researchers discovered a new plant species, Canscora agni, in the fire-prone savannas of western India. It was discovered on Sus Hill in Pune district, Maharashtra. The species is named “agni” (meaning fire) because it thrives in ecosystems maintained by natural fires. It is a small dwarf herb with white petals and distinctive winged stems, clearly different from its closest relative, Canscora alata. Researchers have recommended classifying Canscora agni as Critically Endangered.

Notes:
Researchers recently discovered Sheathia meghalayensis, a new species of freshwater red algae, near Crinoline Waterfalls in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. Freshwater red algae are bioindicators of clean, oxygen-rich, undisturbed freshwater ecosystems. They produce bioactive compounds with antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumour properties, making them valuable in pharmaceuticals, nutrition, and biotechnology. Earlier, only two Sheathia species—Sheathia indonepalensis and Sheathia assamica—had been recorded from Northeast India, both in Assam. Researchers have proposed Sheathia meghalayensis for Critically Endangered status.

Notes:
Researchers from India and Sri Lanka discovered three new species of rare jumping spiders belonging to the genus Onomastus. The newly identified species are Onomastus brahmagiri from the Brahmagiri Hills of Western Ghats (India), Onomastus silentvalley from Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, and Onomastus wijesinghei from montane forests of Sri Lanka. The genus Onomastus represents one of the oldest lineages of jumping spiders and is restricted to the Oriental region. These spiders are found only in isolated montane forests with limited dispersal ability. The discovery supports the “sky island” concept, where isolated mountain habitats promote geographical isolation, speciation, and endemism.

Notes:
A new plant species named Begonia quadricornualata was recently discovered in Papum Pare district, Arunachal Pradesh. The species was found during a botanical survey at Senki View, on the eastern fringe of the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary. The discovery site lies at the intersection of the Himalaya and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots, making it an ecologically significant region.

Notes:
A team of odonatologists has discovered a new species of spreadwing damselfly, Lestes paloti, from the Western Ghats in Kerala. It is the first new species of the genus Lestes described from India since Lestes garoensis (1987). It inhabits scrub vegetation around homesteads and laterite hillocks, often away from open water bodies. It changes colour from brown in the dry season to bluish during the monsoon. Damselflies are predatory aerial insects belonging to the order Odonata. They are mainly found near shallow freshwater habitats and are smaller and more delicate than dragonflies.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Manasbal Lake was recently in the news due to signs of ecological recovery with the return of migratory birds. It is located in Ganderbal district, Jammu & Kashmir, in the Jhelum Valley. It is regarded as the deepest freshwater lake in India, with a depth of about 13 metres. The lake is mainly fed by precipitation and over 1,200 springs, with its outflow regulated into the Jhelum River. Its name is derived from Lake Manasarovar.