Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Deccan Herald Context: The Bugun tribe in Arunachal Pradesh has demonstrated exemplary conservation efforts by donating 1,470 hectares of forest land to the state forest department for the protection of the critically endangered songbird Bugun Liocichla. This species, discovered in 2006, faces threats from deforestation and hunting.
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: The latest survey estimates that there are approximately 7,396 golden langurs in India. The survey was carried out in two phases, covering the Manas Biosphere Reserve and fragmented forests in western Assam.
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Entomologists from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) have discovered a new species of parasitoid wasp in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka. Named Taeniogonalos deepaki, it was discovered in the Belgaum region and named after the medical doctor and nature …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Cycas circinalis, also known as Eenthu Pana in Kerala, is facing extinction in northern Kerala due to an unknown and fast-spreading plant disease. These trees, known for their medicinal and nutritional properties, are dying out without a focused research and action plan. Cycas circinalis, also known …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: LiveScience Context: North Atlantic right whales, the most endangered of their species, are experiencing a decrease in size, impacting their ability to reproduce. A study found that smaller females had fewer calves, with body length significantly influencing the probability of giving birth. The decline in size is attributed …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TOI Context: The Indian Gharial, a critically endangered crocodile species, has been sighted in the Greater Kaziranga landscape for the third consecutive year. Kaziranga’s abundance of freshwater fish species makes it one of the best habitats for gharials.
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Researchers have discovered that the green anaconda, previously thought to be a single species, actually consists of two genetically distinct species: the “southern green anaconda” (Eunectes murinus) and the newly identified “northern green anaconda” (Eunectes akayima). The northern green anaconda is found in countries such as Ecuador, …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: Scientists were astonished to find a mushroom growing out of the side of a frog in India, marking the first known instance of such a phenomenon. Discovered in the Western Ghats, the frog, identified as a Rao’s Golden-backed frog, had a white-colored growth resembling a Bonnet mushroom. …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Economic Times Context: The Assam government has declared ‘Kaji Nemu’ (Citrus Limon) as the state fruit, highlighting its unique aroma, antioxidant properties, and significance in local cuisines. Known for its juiciness and medicinal properties, Kaji Nemu has attracted buyers from countries like the United Kingdom and the United …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Scientists have discovered a new fungus species named Trichoglossum syamviswanathii in Kerala. This species, belonging to the family Geoglossaceae, was found in the Bambusetum of the KFRI Field Research Centre in Thrissur. It’s named after Syam Viswanath, a former director of KFRI. The discovery highlights the rich …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: PIB Context: The Wildlife Institute of India and the Zoological Survey of India have been conducting assessments of the black-necked crane population.
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: ABP News Context: The black-crowned night heron, locally known as ‘Chongkhu,’ that landed in Manipur and later died was banded at the Weishan Bird Banding Station in Beijing, China. Despite the bird’s unfortunate death, the collaboration emphasizes the significance of global initiatives in tracking and preserving migratory species
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: India’s first comprehensive survey estimates the snow leopard population at 718 in the wild. The four-year-long exercise used camera traps in 1,971 locations and surveyed 13,450 km of trails across regions like Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Jammu and Kashmir. Key Findings: The …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: DTE Context: The Himalayan Wolf (Canis lupus chanco) has been assessed for the first time on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The assessment estimates a population size of 2,275-3,792 mature individuals across the Himalayan range of Nepal, India, and the Tibetan Plateau. Conservation …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: DTE Context: The National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL), has successfully expanded litchi cultivation to 19 states in India. Litchi cultivation for commercial production has commenced in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and others. About Litchi: Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is a …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Hindustan Times Context: The United Nations has declared 2024 as the International Year of Camelids to emphasize the significant importance of camelids, such as alpacas, Bactrian camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, and vicuñas, in the lives of people worldwide. Camelids contribute to food security, nutrition, and economic growth in over …
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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science’s molecular biophysics unit have conducted a study revealing that peptides derived from the skin of Budgett’s frog possess the ability to combat enzymes produced by disease-causing pathogens. The frog’s skin secretions contain LL-TIL, a specific peptide studied by the researchers. …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Scientists have identified a new species of ‘music frog,’ named Nidirana noadihing, in Arunachal Pradesh. This unique discovery is marked by the distinct feature that both male and female frogs are vocal. The frogs emit a distinctive call pattern consisting of two to three notes, resembling the …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: AIR Context: Ladakh has secured its fourth Geographical Indication (GI) tag, this time for “Ladakh Sea Buckthorn.” Sea Buckthorn is a highly profitable crop in Ladakh, with 90% of its production coming from the region. About Sea buckthorn: A shrubwhich produces an orange-yellow coloured edible berry. In India, it …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: India has reported the presence of tilapia parvovirus (TiPV) for the first time in Tamil Nadu., affecting farm-bred tilapia fish. The virus caused mortality rates ranging from 30% to 50% in farms and 100% in laboratory settings.
