UPSC Quiz – 2024 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 1st November 2024

·       According to the most recent estimate from the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, NARW has continued its slow increase from a low of 358 individuals in 2020.

·       The population of NARW is one of the world’s most endangered large whale species that remains significantly smaller than it was a decade ago.

·       Features – They have stocky black bodies with no dorsal fins, and their blow spouts are shaped like a “V.”

·       Their heads have knobby white patches of rough skin, called callosities, which appear white because of whale lice (cyamids) covering their otherwise black skin.

·       Right whales can probably live for at least 70 years, but data on their average lifespan is limited since scientific monitoring of the species is fairly recent.

·       Range – North Atlantic right whales primarily occur in Atlantic coastal waters on the continental shelf, although they also are known to travel far offshore, over deep water.

·       Conservation – It is classified as critically endangered in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

·       They have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1970.

·       Threats – They have experienced an ongoing Unusual Mortality Event since 2017, which includes sub-lethally injured or ill, seriously injured, and dead right whales.

·       Additionally, research demonstrates that only about 1/3 of right whale deaths are documented.

·       Other threats include entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes, climate change, which may alter their migratory patterns and feeding area.

·       The impacts of ocean noise also affect their ability to communicate, find food and navigate.

·       North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium – Is a longstanding collaboration between scientists, conservationists, marine industry members and others

·       It also manages the Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS) and Centre of Excellence for Sports for the betterment of Tribal Students.Objectives of NESTS include:

·       To provide quality modern education including a strong component of inculcation of values, awareness of the environment, adventure activities.

·       To provide quality modern physical education to the talented tribal children predominantly from the rural areas without regard to their family’s socio-economic condition.

·       To provide facilities, at a suitable stage, for instruction through a common medium all over the country.

·       Raigad is the classic example of Maratha architecture.

·       History – In 1653 CE, Raigad (then known as Rairi) was captured by the Maratha forces from the Mores’.

·       Shivaji Maharaj assigned the work of reconstruction of the fort to Hiroji Indulkar.

·       On 1674 CE a grand coronation ceremony of Shivaji Maharaj was held on Raigad post, during which he attained the title of “Chhatrapati”.

·       It is identified as Durgaraj (king of forts).

·       The fort also overlooks an artificial lake known as the ‘Ganga Sagar Lake’.

·       Besides the lake, an important feature nestled within the fort complex is a Shiva temple called Jagadishwar Mandir.

·       Raigad, surrounded by valleys shaped by the Kal and Gandhari rivers, stands as an isolated massif without connections to neighbouring hills.

·       Samadhi of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – Adjacent to the Temple, the Samadhi of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is located almost opposite to the eastern entrance of Jagadishwar Mandir.

·       It is a collaborative global initiative linking taxonomic, geographical, ecological and conservation information in support of biodiversity conservation policy and action.

·       As of now, the Global Tree Assessment is the largest global project, resulting in IUCN Red List assessments of nearly 50,000 tree species carried out by more than 1,000 tree experts.

·       In fact, over a quarter of all assessments on the updated IUCN Red List are now tree assessments.

·       Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) – Is a membership organisation, representing botanic gardens in more than 100 countries around the world.

·       It is an independent UK charity established in 1987 to link the botanic gardens of the world in a global network for plant conservation.

·       IUCN Species Survival Commission Global Tree Specialist Group (GTSG) – It is a global network of experts who, working in their own regions and institutions, all contribute to the conservation of globally threatened trees.

·       The aims of the GTSG are to conserve tree species globally, by sharing knowledge and catalyse action to halt declines, restore populations and prevent extinctions.

·       Iconic species like magnolias, oaks, maples, and ebonies are among the most endangered, reflecting a global biodiversity crisis impacting entire ecosystems.

·       Hypsibius henanensis a newly discovered species of tardigrades that can withstand high levels of radiation.

·       Tardigrades – Are near-microscopic animals that can survive freezing temperatures, crushing pressures and even the vacuum of space.

·       Tardigrades, often called water bears or moss piglets, are tiny aquatic animals.

·       Habitat – They live in water, from oceans to drops of water on plants.

·       They can live high in the mountains and deep in the ocean.

·       Diet – Tardigrades mostly eat plants and algae.

·       Some species eat other, smaller creatures, like microscopic worms and tiny, wheel-shaped animals called rotifers.

·       Features – They curl up into dried-up balls that can survive boiling water, freezing cold and outer space.

·       This is called a tun state.

·       They may survive up to a century in their tun state.

·       Outside their tun state, they live between 3 months and 2.5 years