Daily Current Affairs (MCQ) | Date 30.12.21

Q1. The dance of Chartses, a mating jig of the black-necked crane, is an important feature of every cultural programme or festival in the region where the bird is revered among the people. Residents, particularly those living in the Changthang region, consider the black-necked crane not only culturally important but a spiritual creature as well. Many monasteries have paintings of the crane along with other spiritual paintings. The region discussed here which is the habitat of Black-necked crane is 

1. Meghalaya
2. Ladakh
3. Tripura
4. West Bengal

Answer : b

Why is the Question ?

Ladakh’s revered bird is under threat from human’s best friend – dogs

1. The black-necked crane, the state bird of Jammu and Kashmir, is under threat from feral dogs that damage the bird eggs and chicks.
2. Another threat to the bird is the loss of habitat. According to IUCN, the black-necked crane is classified as vulnerable because it has a single small population that is declining owing to the loss and degradation of wetlands and changing agricultural practises in both its breeding and wintering grounds.
3. The dance of Chartses, a mating jig of the black-necked crane, is an important feature of every cultural programme or festival in Ladakh where the bird is revered among the people. Ladakhis, particularly those living in the Changthang region, consider the black-necked crane not only culturally important but a spiritual creature as well. Many monasteries have paintings of the crane along with other spiritual paintings.
4. But the beautiful creature, also the state bird of the mountainous Jammu & Kashmir, is under severe threat from humankind’s trusted friends – dogs. In Ladakh Himalayas, the major threat to the successful breeding of black-necked crane is the damage caused to the eggs and chicks of the bird by feral dogs, according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India who claimed that “these dogs are owned both by armed forces as well as by the local nomads.” 

Habitat:

The black-necked crane lives on high altitudes in the Tibetan plateau, India and Bhutan, the only species of the crane family choosing such habitats. These birds build their nests in open environments which makes them vulnerable to predators. Both male and female are almost of similar size though the male is slightly bigger than the female. They have whitish bodies, long slender black legs and long black necks with a red crown adorning their heads.

Black-necked cranes primarily breed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in south-central China, and in contiguous areas of India like the Changthang, where this image was taken. Their arrival in the Sangti, Zemithang and Chug valleys of Arunachal Pradesh has also been noted. Black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) are the only alpine species of crane in the world, with an estimated population of around 13,500.

The cranes arrive in Ladakh around the end-March to early April, settling around the region’s high-altitude lakes, including Tso Kar, Hanle, and Pangong. This image was taken near the village of Hanle in Ladakh.

In Hanle, the birds have been sighted in the vicinity of herds of kiang or wild asses that are native to the Tibetan Plateau. At Tso Kar, the birds have been observed foraging in the presence of livestock, indicating comfort with human presence.

By end-October, the cranes start to arrive in the Phobjikha valley of Bhutan, where they have something of celebrity status. One of the locations where the birds take residence is near the Gangteng Buddhist Monastery, where a black-necked crane festival is held annually on Nov 11. Legend has it that the birds circle the monastery three times upon arrival as if practising the Buddhist act of circumambulation that is observed at holy sites.

Q2. Lion-Tailed Macaques LTMs are arboreal monkeys, endemic to the wet evergreen rainforests of the Country. With rainforests disappearing, LTMs have been increasingly losing habitat. The species is today considered threatened by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Less than 1000 individuals survive in the wild. The mighty Sharavathi river basin is considered a significant refuge for the endangered Lion-Tailed Macaques (LTM) in the country. LTM is found in the following area of India

1. Western Ghats
2. Khasi-Garo-Jaintia Hills
3. Tripura Hills
4. Arunachal Pradesh Hills

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

Lion-tailed macaques (LTM) 

LTMs are arboreal monkeys, endemic to the wet evergreen rainforests of the Western Ghats. With rainforests disappearing, LTMs have been increasingly losing habitat. The species is today considered threatened by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Less than 1000 individuals survive in the wild.

The mighty Sharavathi river basin in the Western Ghats is considered a significant refuge for the endangered Lion-Tailed Macaques (LTM) in the country. With a recent survey revealing more than 32 groups of LTM in the Honnavar division, this arboreal species, which is on the IUCN Red List of endangered species, is likely to get protection soon.

Forest officials say more than 200 sq kms of reserve forests in the Sharavathi basin will soon become a protected forest. A senior forest official adds, “As per a recent survey, a sizable population of LTM was found in this area. Around 32-35 groups were found in the Honnavar area. Being arboreal animals, they need a thick canopy cover as they spend most of their lives in the upper canopy of tropical moist evergreen forests. The expansion in its habitat will go a long way in protecting these mammals.” 

The LTM is endemic to rain forest patches of the Western Ghats. Most of their populations are severely fragmented and declining while the species is locally extinct in some areas. Studies also revealed LTM populations in the Sirsi-Honnavara area, which was possibly the only viable population with more than 750 individuals but were confined to unprotected reserve forests. In fact, the researchers made recommendations for long-term conservation of LTM and for the Sirsi-Honnavara population in particular. Located close to Sagar taluk of Shimoga district, Sharavathi is contiguous with the Mookambika Sanctuary.

Schedule 1 Species

LTM has been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List while it is a Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife Protection Act. According to researchers, due to the degradation and fragmentation of rain forests, they have vanished from Maharashtra and Goa. Their population is now restricted only to Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with the majority located in numerous small isolated pockets in the Western Ghats.

Q3. Sundarbans endangered as per IUCN’s Red List of Ecosystems framework. Which of the following factors can weaken Mangrove's ecosystem?

1. Reduced freshwater supply
2. Reduced sediment supply
3. Climate change
4. Diminishing fish populations

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

1. 1, 2 and 3
2. 2, 3 and 4
3. 1, 2 and 4
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

Sundarbans endangered as per IUCN’s Red List of Ecosystems framework, cautious optimism advised

1. A global team of researchers has evaluated the Indian Sundarbans ecosystem to be endangered driven by the historical clearing of mangroves and diminishing fish populations. Ongoing threats such as climate change and reduced freshwater supply may further imperil this ecosystem, they said.
2. The analysis uses the Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) framework developed by the IUCN. It is analogous to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
3. The assessment calls for ‘cautious optimism because of the slow down in historically high rates of mangrove clearing, and recently stabilising tiger populations.
4. However, ongoing threats such as reduced freshwater and sediment supply must be effectively monitored and managed.

Q4. Dugong (Dugong dugon) also called ‘Sea Cow’ is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India. Consider the following statements in this regard

1. Dugongs occur in the Gulf of Mannar PalkBay, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar islands
2. Dugong keep the seagrass ecosystem healthy

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2 
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

Dugong (Dugong dugon) also called ‘Sea Cow’ is one of the four surviving species in the Order Sirenia and it is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India. Dugongs are protected in India and occur in the Gulf of Mannar, PalkBay, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar islands. Once abundant in Indian waters, the Dugong population has now reduced to about 200 individuals and is believed to be continuously declining in its number and range. Dugong conservation is nothing but coastal conservation being a flagship species in its range.

In order to conserve and manage the declining populations of dugong in India, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change under the Government of India constituted a ‘Task Force for Conservation of Dugongs’ to look into the entire gamut of issues related to the conservation of dugongs and implementation of the ‘UNEP/CMS Dugong MoU’ in India and also to facilitate the country to act as the leading nation in the South Asia Sub-region with respect to dugong conservation. 

Why India needs its fishers to save dugongs and their seagrass habitat

1. Seagrass habitats can combat climate change by acting as massive carbon sinks by capturing carbon from the atmosphere. They also protect vulnerable coastlines from rising tides.
2. Meanwhile, the currently vulnerable dugongs or sea cows graze about 40 kg of seagrass/day and this constant trimming results in regenerating a healthier seagrass ecosystem.

India is now reaching out to fishers through awareness programmes and incentives to protect both the endangered dugongs and their habitat – the

1. seagrass meadows. The dugong is currently listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
2. Dugong (Dugong dugon) is currently the only herbivorous marine mammal on earth that feeds exclusively on seagrass. Dugong leaves the required gaps in between seagrasses that facilitate further growth and makes the seagrass habitats conducive for breeding of fishes that are commercially important for the livelihoods of fishermen. 

The way forward

To further dugong and seagrass conservation, WII proposes that the Coastal Regulation Zone should prohibit trawler fishing within the territorial water i.e. 12 nautical miles from the coast be left exclusively for traditional fishermen. He also hopes that India’s first marine conservation reserve would materialise in Palk Bay in the near future. Madhu adds that making dugong a part of the school curriculum could do much for its conservation; And let’s hope the next generation gets to see the dugongs not merely in those books.

Dugong Facts:

1. Dugong (commonly known as sea cow) is the world's only vegetarian marine mammal.
2. Found in: warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia, including Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific.
3. Threats: destruction and modification of habitat, pollution, rampant illegal fishing activities, vessel strikes, unsustainable hunting or poaching and unplanned tourism.
4. IUCN status: Vulnerable 

Dugongs are endangered marine species like sea turtles, seahorses, sea cucumbers and others. They are protected in India under Schedule I of the Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972.

There were just 250 dugongs in the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat according to the 2013 survey report of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).

Q5. Which of the following is/are correctly matched?

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

All are viral diseases.

To find out monkey fever’s next destination, scientists follow the ticks that carry it

1. Monkey fever or the Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), is a tick-borne viral disease that has spread from the wild to people living at the periphery of forests across the Western Ghats. Over 9000 people have been affected by the disease; several have died. KFD has no cure and only a weak vaccine.
2. Scientists are now trying to understand if monitoring an area for ticks that transmit the KFD virus can help create risk maps for areas that can help health officials take preventive measures.
3. Tick abundance and composition are indicators of the risk of KFD outbreaks in an area. But scientists warn that these predictions should be strengthened with more information about other factors such as the virus circulation in nature and people most likely to be vulnerable to such a disease.
4. The KFD virus belongs to the Flaviviridae family of viruses, whose other notable members include the dengue and yellow fever virus. While the latter viruses are carried and transmitted by mosquitoes, the KFD virus is transported by ticks.