11. Operation Turtshield was launched by which country?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] Russia
[D] Indonesia
Answer: B [India]
Notes:
The 19th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP 19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is being held at Panama City.
India’s proposal for induction of fresh water turtle ‘Batagur kachuga’ earned support of the parties in CoP 19 of CITES. CITES also lauded the result achieved by the country in operations initiated by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau namely Operation Turtshield, to eliminate poaching and illegal trade of fresh water turtles.
12. India has proposed to transfer which species from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES Convention?
[A] Leith’s soft-shelled Turtle
[B] Burmese peacock softshell
[C] Indian softshell turtle
[D] Burmese narrow-headed softshell turtle
Answer: A [Leith’s soft-shelled Turtle]
Notes:
India has proposed for transferring Leith’s Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia leithi) from Appendix II to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES).
The proposal has been adopted by the Conference of Parties (CoP) to CITES in its 19th Meeting at Panama. Leith’s Softshell Turtle is a large fresh water soft-shelled turtle which is endemic to peninsular India.
13. CITES COP19 has recently accepted the proposal to downgrade the status of which animal?
[A] Himalayan Yak
[B] Indian Soft Turtle
[C] Southern white rhinos
[D] Great Indian Bustard
Answer: C [Southern white rhinos]
Notes:
CITES COP19 has recently accepted the proposal to downgrade the status of southern white rhinos from Appendix I to Appendix II.
The COP-19 accepted the proposal by Botswana and Namibia to degrade the status. Wild animal species listed in Appendix I include those threatened with extinction.
14. Which countries announced ‘Just Transition Initiative’ to tackle plastic pollution in an inclusive manner?
[A] South Africa-Kenya
[B] USA-South Africa
[C] Kenya-Egypt
[D] UK-Canada
Answer: A [South Africa-Kenya]
Notes:
South Africa and Kenya have recently announced the Just Transition Initiative to tackle plastic pollution in an inclusive manner.
The Just Transition initiative was launched in the aftermath of negotiations on Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to phase out plastic held in Uruguay. The initiative aims to create decent work opportunities for waste-pickers and other workers in the plastic value chain.
15. Common Mormon, which was seen in the news recently, belongs to which species?
[A] Snake
[B] Butterfly
[C] Spider
[D] Turtle
Answer: B [Butterfly]
Notes:
A recent study by scientists of the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) have discovered that butterflies warn, fool, and escape their predators using traits such as wing colour patterns and even flight behaviour.
The study investigated the butterfly mimetic communities of the Western Ghats over five years. The female Common Mormon mimics the toxic Common Rose. In mimicry, a palatable organism resembles an unpalatable organism to deceive predators.
16. Which state announced that no rhinos were poached in 2022, the first time since 2000?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Assam
[C] Bihar
[D] Odisha
Answer: B [Assam]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that no rhinos were poached in Assam in the year 2022.
Since 2000, it is for the first time there were no incidents of rhino poaching in the state. Assam’s Kaziranga National Park is the biggest habitat for one-horned rhinos globally. In 2021, the Assam government established a 22-member task force for containing the act of poaching.
17. What is the name of the international agreement signed in 1987 to ban Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?
[A] Paris Agreement
[B] Montreal Protocol
[C] Chicago Agreement
[D] Kyoto Protocol
Answer: B [Montreal Protocol]
Notes:
The Montreal Protocol, an international agreement in 1987 to stop using the harmful chemicals, has been successful, as per a recent UN report.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were commonly found in spray cans, fridges, foam insulation and air conditioners, were blamed for damaging the ozone layer.
18. What species is Geochelone elegans, which was seen in the news recently?
[A] One-horned rhinoceros
[B] Indian star tortoise
[C] Great Indian bustard
[D] Asiatic Lion
Answer: B [Indian star tortoise]
Notes:
A recent study on the Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) distributed across South Asia has revealed that the genetic diversity of the species as well as habitat has been affected because of illegal trade.
The researchers behind the study have also raised concerns over unscientific translocations that have resulted in genetic mixing between different populations, posing a challenge in segregating available populations at the genetic level. The details of the study were recently been published in a peer reviewed international journal.
19. Researchers have discovered a rare low-altitude basalt plateau in which state/UT?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Goa
Answer: C [Maharashtra]
Notes:
Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune recently discovered a rare low-altitude basalt plateau in Manjare village, Thane district. This is the fourth type of plateau to be identified in the region.
The plateau houses 76 species of plants and shrubs from 24 different families discovered in Thane region in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats is one of four global biodiversity hotspots in India.
20. Sri Chamarajendra Zoo, which was seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] West Bengal
[D] Bihar
Answer: A [Karnataka]
Notes:
Sri Chamarajendra Zoo also called as the Mysuru Zoo, put three healthy lion cubs on public display, for the first time since their birth.
The cubs (two males and one female) were born to five-year-old lioness Nirbhaya who was brought from Nandan Van Zoo at Raipur in 2021. She was paired with lion Raju who was brought from Junagadh zoo in Gujarat in 2019.