Environment & Species in News — July 2026

1. Zanthoxylum (locally known as Khagi) is a spice used by indigenous communities for food and medicine. · 31 Jul · GS3 · note
2. Spotted lanternfly is an invasive species known to damage agricultural crops. · 31 Jul · GS3 · note
3. Vaquita: A small porpoise found in the northern Gulf of California. · 31 Jul · GS3 · note
4. Kakapo: A flightless, nocturnal parrot native to New Zealand. · 31 Jul · GS3 · note
5. Saola: A rare bovine species found in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos. · 31 Jul · GS3 · note
6. Siberian crane and bar-headed geese are key species of the Central Asian Flyway. · 30 Jul · GS3 · note
7. Blue Carbon: Term used for carbon captured by coastal and marine ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. · 28 Jul · GS3 · note
8. Manis aurita: The scientific name for the Himalayan pangolin. · 27 Jul · GS3 · note
9. Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is a critically endangered bird species endemic to the Indian subcontinent. · 27 Jul · GS3 · note
10. Desert National Park in Rajasthan is a key habitat for the Great Indian Bustard. · 27 Jul · GS3 · note
11. Himalayan blue poppy and Brahma Kamal are key floral species found in the park. · 27 Jul · GS3 · note
12. GLOFs: Glacial Lake Outburst Floods occur when glacial lakes burst due to ice avalanches or earthquakes. · 25 Jul · GS3 · note
13. Barnacles and mussels are identified as primary invasive species colonizing stranded hulls. · 24 Jul · GS3 · note
14. Great Barrier Reef: The world's largest coral reef system located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. · 22 Jul · GS3 · note
15. Landslides and floods in Northeast India are exacerbated by heavy monsoon rainfall and fragile geological structures. · 20 Jul · GS1 · note
16. Chipko Andolan: A forest conservation movement in the 1970s where villagers hugged trees to prevent felling. · 20 Jul · GS3 · note
17. Spotted deer (Axis axis) are native to the Indian subcontinent and are key prey for large carnivores. · 19 Jul · GS3 · note
18. The Shivalik elephant reserve is a key ecological zone in Uttarakhand affected by the project. · 19 Jul · GS3 · note
19. Asiatic lions (Panthera leo leo) are primarily found in the Gir Forest of Gujarat. · 18 Jul · GS3 · note
20. Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo leo) are primarily found in the Gir National Park and surrounding areas of Gujarat. · 18 Jul · GS3 · note
21. Desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops) is endemic to coastal dunes in Namibia and South Africa. · 18 Jul · GS3 · note
22. The desert rain frog is listed as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List (not Critically Endangered). · 18 Jul · GS3 · note
23. Primary threats to the desert rain frog include habitat loss due to diamond mining. · 18 Jul · GS3 · note
24. Himalayan pangolin (Manis aurita) is a newly confirmed distinct species as of 2024 · 18 Jul · GS3 · note
25. Asiatic lions (Panthera leo leo) are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. · 17 Jul · GS3 · note
26. Mangroves are coastal ecosystems that act as natural barriers against storm surges and coastal erosion. · 16 Jul · GS3 · note
27. Feedback mechanism: Increased melting leads to more exposed dark surfaces, further increasing heat absorption · 15 Jul · GS3 · note
28. Beavers are classified as 'ecosystem engineers' due to their ability to build dams and alter waterways. · 14 Jul · GS3 · note
29. Western Ghats: Part of the Sahyadri mountain range, characterized by high endemism and heavy monsoon-driven rainfall. · 12 Jul · GS3 · note
30. Indian Ocean humpback dolphin: An endangered marine mammal species found in the Indian Ocean. · 12 Jul · GS3 · note
31. Indo-Pacific finless porpoise: A marine mammal species found in the Indo-Pacific region. · 12 Jul · GS3 · note
32. Amarnath Cave: A high-altitude cave shrine located in the Himalayas, known for the 'Ice Lingam'. · 12 Jul · GS2 · note
33. Onomastus brahmagiri: New jumping spider species discovered in the Brahmagiri Hills. · 12 Jul · GS3 · note
34. Onomastus silentvalley: New jumping spider species discovered in Silent Valley National Park. · 12 Jul · GS3 · note
35. Onomastus wijesinghei: New jumping spider species discovered in Sri Lankan mountain forests. · 12 Jul · GS3 · note
36. Onomastus patellaris: Rediscovered in Tamil Nadu after over a century. · 12 Jul · GS3 · note
37. African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is an invasive predatory species in Indian freshwater ecosystems. · 11 Jul · GS3 · note
38. Upwelling: The process of cold, nutrient-dense water rising from the depths to the surface, essential for supporting primary productivity like algae. · 11 Jul · GS3 · note
39. Pygmy Hog: The world's smallest wild pig species, native to the grasslands of Assam. · 11 Jul · GS3 · note
40. Doryctes (Udamolcus) xylotrechi: A newly discovered parasitic wasp species in Jammu and Kashmir. · 11 Jul · GS3 · note
41. Monsoon: The seasonal wind system in India characterized by heavy rainfall and high humidity. · 10 Jul · GS1 · note
42. Great Indian Bustard: Critically endangered bird species found in grasslands of Rajasthan and Gujarat · 10 Jul · GS3 · note
43. Greater One-horned Rhinoceros: Primarily found in the Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary · 10 Jul · GS3 · note
44. Nanoplastics: Microplastics smaller than 1 micrometer that can penetrate biological membranes. · 9 Jul · GS3 · note
45. Bumblebees and honeybees are key wild pollinators whose health is affected by heavy metal contamination. · 9 Jul · GS3 · note
46. Monsoon variability in India is characterized by shorter dry spells and intense rainfall bursts. · 9 Jul · GS3 · note
47. Mangroves: Halophytic trees/shrubs that grow in coastal saline/brackish water. · 9 Jul · GS3 · note
48. Nature-based solutions include the integration of green infrastructure and reflective surfaces to mitigate UHI effects. · 8 Jul · GS3 · note
49. Sacred groves are traditional forest relics protected by local communities through religious and cultural beliefs. · 4 Jul · GS3 · note
50. Antarctic sea ice loss is linked to altered cloud cover and atmospheric heat distribution. · 4 Jul · GS3 · note
51. Sariska Tiger Reserve: Located in Rajasthan, notable for tiger reintroduction programs. · 4 Jul · GS3 · note
52. Marine heatwaves: Periods of abnormally high sea temperatures that cause coral bleaching and disrupt marine biodiversity. · 3 Jul · GS3 · note
53. Arctic region is experiencing the fastest warming rates globally · 3 Jul · GS3 · note
54. Sariska Tiger Reserve is a major tiger habitat located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. · 2 Jul · GS3 · note

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