Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A new species of snakehead fish has been discovered and named Channa bhoi. It was found in a small mountain stream near Iewmawlong village in the Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. The species is named to honour the indigenous Bhoi community of the Khasi tribe living in Ri-Bhoi. It belongs to the Gachua group of snakehead fishes, a group rich in species diversity in the Eastern Himalayan region.

Notes:
The 40th Asian Waterbird Census and 60th International Waterbird Census (IWC) will record bird species in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and nearby wetlands. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Andhra Pradesh within the Godavari estuary, where the Coringa River meets the Bay of Bengal. It contains India’s second-largest mangrove forest along with dry deciduous tropical forests. The Asian Waterbird Census is an annual citizen-science programme under the global IWC for wetland conservation. In India, it is conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Notes:
Bihar government approved a revised proposal to notify Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve. The proposal will be sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for final clearance. Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest sanctuary in Bihar with rich biodiversity and dense forests. It is located in Kaimur and Rohtas districts within the Kaimur Range. The area covers parts of the Kaimur Plateau and Rohtas Plateau.

Notes:
Parts of Dal Lake in Srinagar recently froze as the city recorded its coldest winter night, with temperatures well below freezing across the Kashmir Valley. Dal Lake is a mid-altitude urban freshwater lake located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. It is surrounded by the Pir Panjal mountains. The lake is vital for tourism and recreation and is called the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel.”

Notes:
The Indian Skimmer Conservation Project was launched by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). BNHS, established in 1883, is one of India’s largest non-governmental organizations working on conservation and biodiversity research. The Indian Skimmer is native to South Asia, mainly found in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and extends to Nepal and Myanmar. It has a unique feeding method, skimming the water surface with its specialised beak, where the lower mandible is longer. The species inhabits sandy lowland rivers, lakes, marshes, estuaries, and coastal areas. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Indian Skimmer is Endangered.

Notes:
The latest crocodile census shows an increase in crocodile population in Similipal National Park of Odisha, highlighting successful wildlife conservation. Similipal National Park is located in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha and covers about 2,750 square kilometres. The park is named after the Simul or silk cotton tree found in large numbers. It is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve, and part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve.

Notes:
A drone-based survey by the Odisha Forest and Environment Department shows that the saltwater crocodile population is increasing. The saltwater crocodile is the largest and heaviest living reptile and is also known as the estuarine or Indo-Pacific crocodile. It lives in saltwater, brackish wetlands, rivers, and mangroves. The species is found along India’s east coast, Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and Micronesia. In India, it occurs in Odisha, West Bengal, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with Odisha having the highest population in natural habitat. It is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
A forest fire recently spread inside Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary along the Indo-China border at about 13,000 feet altitude in Sikkim. The sanctuary is located in eastern Sikkim and is connected to the forests of Bhutan and Neora Valley National Park in West Bengal. The Pangolakha Range below the Chola Range forms a natural boundary between Sikkim and Bhutan. It has alpine, temperate, and subtropical vegetation zones.

Notes:
India’s pygmy hog is the smallest and rarest species of wild pig in the world and is rapidly vanishing from its grasslands. It is one of the few mammals that builds its own nest with a roof for shelter. The species serves as an indicator of grassland health, reflecting the condition of its primary habitat. Pygmy hogs prefer undisturbed riverine grasslands with dense tall grasses, herbs, shrubs, and young trees. Currently, they are found only in Assam’s Manas and Orang National Parks. The species is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
Thailand launched its first rewilding effort by releasing a young Indo-Pacific leopard shark near Maiton Island. Indo-Pacific leopard sharks are also called zebra sharks due to their changing spotted or striped patterns with age. They are slow-swimming reef sharks found in tropical coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific. It is classified as Endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).