Long Tailed Marmot: Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra brings thousands of pilgrims into a fragile Himalayan ecosystem where long‑tailed marmots live. Long Tailed Marmot is a rodent of the high-altitude areas of the Kashmir Himalaya. It is also known as the golden marmot and is a member of the Sciuridae family. It has vibrant golden fur […]
Category: Environment Current Affairs
What is Smew?
What is Smew? Assam’s Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary recently recorded the Smew (Mergellus albellus), a rare migratory waterbird, for the first time. Smew is a medium-sized duck belonging to the family Anatidae. It was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. Scientific Name: Mergellus albellus The smew species breed in the northern taiga […]
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: Researchers warned that climate change is destabilising Western Ghats’ forest ecosystems in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is located in the Nilgiri Mountains of the Western Ghats. It encompasses parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. It was the first biosphere reserve in India, established in 1986. Protected areas within this […]
216 rescued Indian Star Tortoises
216 rescued Indian Star Tortoises: 216 rescued Indian Star Tortoises (Geochelone elegans) were successfully rehabilitated in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) from Mumbai and Thane.It is a medium-sized terrestrial tortoise.Their name comes from the star-like pattern on their shell.These patterns act as camouflage by helping to break up the shell outline so that it more […]
Impatiens Nimspurjai
Impatiens Nimspurjai: A newly discovered Himalayan plant has been named Impatiens nimspurjai in honour of the legendary Nepali mountaineer. Impatiens Nimspurjai is a new plant species of the touch-me-not family. It is endemic to western Nepal. It was named in honour of the celebrated Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja. Its botanical name combines “Nims Purja” with […]
Hara Mangrove Forests
Hara Mangrove Forests: The Hara mangrove forests of Iran’s Qeshm Island are facing a serious environmental threat after oil residues reached the island and parts of the protected mangrove ecosystem, amid continuing conflict and shipping-related oil spills in the Persian Gulf. Hara Forests located around Qeshm Island and the Khuran Strait near the Strait of […]
Giloy : In News
Giloy : In News Giloy, the climbing herb found in gardens and forests across India, has found an unusual patient in Madhya Pradesh, a young tigress battling canine distemper, one of the most dangerous viral diseases affecting wild carnivores. Giloy is a climbing shrub that grows on other trees, from the botanical family Menispermaceae. Scientific […]
SHANTI Act, 2025 and Nuclear Liability Concerns
SHANTI Act, 2025 and Nuclear Liability Concerns: The Supreme Court of India has initiated a review to determine whether the statutory liability caps prescribed under the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, can legally restrict constitutional courts from awarding fair and suitable compensation to victims of a nuclear […]
India’s 1st Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems
India’s 1st Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems: India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The guide documents India’s grasslands, savannas, deserts, scrublands, ravines, rocky […]
SC Directs Nationwide Protection of Elephant Corridors
SC Directs Nationwide Protection of Elephant Corridors: The Supreme Court ruled that no State can block elephant corridors, directing the Central Government to conduct a nationwide survey and ensure the right of passage for elephant herds through traditional elephant corridors across State borders. SC held that elephant corridors are not State-specific as elephant herds naturally […]
