Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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A rare melanistic (black-coloured) spotted deer (chital) was recently sighted at the Umred Pauni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary near Nagpur. The sanctuary is located across Pauni tehsil in Bhandara district and Umred, Kuhi, and Bhivapur talukas of Nagpur district in Maharashtra. It is bounded along the northeast by the Wainganga River and the Gose Khurd Dam. The forest corridor along the Wainganga River connects this sanctuary with the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, aiding wildlife movement and ecological connectivity.

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The Himachal Pradesh High Court quashed a notification declaring Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Col. Sher Jung National Park, also known as Simbalbara National Park, is located in the Paonta Valley, Himachal Pradesh. It is named after freedom fighter and environmentalist Colonel Sher Jung. The park lies in the lower to upper Shiwalik ranges with elevations between 350–700 metres. It is situated at the confluence of the Himalayas, Gangetic plains, and semi-arid biogeographic regions. It shares ecological connectivity with Kalesar National Park.

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The Madras High Court has refused to lift the temporary ban on boating in Pykara Lake, highlighting environmental concerns. Pykara Lake is located in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu and was formed by the construction of a dam on the Pykara River. The river originates from Mukurthi Peak and is the largest river in the district. It is considered sacred by the Toda tribe, an indigenous Adivasi community. The Pykara Dam hosts one of the oldest hydropower plants in South India, generating about 60 MW of electricity.

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The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has begun the third synchronised survey of the Nilgiri Tahr. Nilgiri Tahr is a mountain ungulate endemic to the southern Western Ghats. It is also called Nilgiri Ibex and locally known as Varayaadu. It is the only mountain ungulate in southern India. It inhabits montane grasslands of the Western Ghats, especially in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

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Scientists discovered new fossils of an ancient platypus species in South Australia showing it had teeth, unlike modern platypuses. The Platypus is a semi-aquatic, egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia. It belongs to a rare group of mammals called monotremes (egg-laying mammals). It inhabits freshwater systems ranging from tropical Queensland to Tasmania and the Australian Alps. It spends much of its time in burrows along riverbanks. Its conservation status is Near Threatened (IUCN).

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A scientific survey has started in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra Pradesh to assess the Peacock Tarantula population. Peacock Tarantula, also called Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula, is known for its bright metallic blue colour. It is endemic to India and mainly found in Andhra Pradesh forests. It actively hunts prey using speed and venom instead of webs. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists it as Critically Endangered. It helps maintain ecological balance by controlling insect populations.

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United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) announced the expansion of the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) to include coal mines and waste facilities. MARS is the world’s first public global satellite-based methane detection and notification system. It was launched by the UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO). The system was announced at the Conference of Parties (COP) 27 in 2022 and entered pilot phase in 2023.

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The world’s first Smart Island Monitoring System has been launched on Floreana Island in the Galápagos Archipelago to improve biodiversity conservation and ecosystem monitoring. The project was developed by Island Conservation in collaboration with Fundación Jocotoco under the Floreana Island Ecological Restoration Project. The system uses Low Power Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN), Internet of Things (IoT) technology, artificial intelligence-enabled camera traps, smart traps, and animal trackers for real-time wildlife monitoring. It reduces manual conservation work by about 98 percent and helps conservation teams quickly respond to environmental and wildlife changes.

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A rare medicinal mushroom species, Cordyceps, was recently discovered in East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, attracting scientific and commercial interest. Cordyceps is a parasitic fungus that grows on insect larvae, gradually replacing the host tissue and producing long stem-like structures. It is found across the world except Antarctica, while the rarest and most valuable species occur in the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, and China. Popularly called “Himalayan gold,” it is highly valued in traditional medicine, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical research due to its expensive market price.

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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.