About Parrot bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4):

• It is an enveloped single-strand RNA virus that infects parrots and other psittacine birds (such as macaws, cockatoos, parakeets, and conures).
• It belongs to the genus Orthobornavirus in the family Bornaviridae.
• PaBV-4 is one of several parrot bornavirus species and is among the most commonly detected in captive parrots worldwide.
• PaBV causes proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), a largely fatal condition affecting birds' digestive and nervous systems.
• Transmission
  • The virus is believed to spread mainly through contact with infected birds or their droppings and feather dust, although the exact routes of transmission are not yet fully understood.
  • Infected birds may carry and shed the virus without showing clinical signs, facilitating its spread.
• Treatment and Prevention:
  • There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for PaBV-4.
  • Management focuses on supportive care, reducing inflammation, and maintaining nutrition.
  • Prevention relies on strict biosecurity, quarantine of new birds, routine health screening, and minimizing contact between infected and healthy birds.

About Lymphatic Filariasis:

• Lymphatic filariasis (LF), commonly known as elephantiasis, is a parasitic infection and a neglected tropical disease.
• It can cause severe swelling in the legs and other parts of the body.
• Cause:
  • It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea. T
  • There are 3 types of these thread-like filarial worms:
    • Wuchereria bancrofti, which is responsible for 90% of the cases.
    • Brugia malayi, which causes most of the remainder of the cases.
    • Brugia timori, which also causes the disease.
  • Transmission:
    • It is a vector-borne disease transmitted by the female Culex mosquito.
    • Adult worms nest in the lymphatic vessels and disrupt the normal function of the lymphatic system, where they produce millions of microfilariae (immature larvae) that circulate in the blood.
    • In general, a person won’t get filariasis from a single mosquito bite.
    • It usually takes repeated mosquito bites over several months (or even years) for a person to get the condition.
  • Treatment:
  • Elimination of lymphatic filariasis is possible by stopping the spread of the infection through preventive chemotherapy.
  • The WHO-recommended preventive chemotherapy strategy for lymphatic filariasis elimination is mass drug administration (MDA).
  • MDA involves administering an annual dose of medicines to the entire at-risk population.

About Sheathia meghalayensis:

• It is a new species of freshwater red algae.
• It was discovered near Crinoline Waterfalls in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.
• Freshwater red algae are highly sensitive organisms that act as critical bioindicators of pristine, undisturbed aquatic ecosystems.
• Such algae thrive only in clean, oxygen-rich freshwater, making them important indicators of healthy river ecosystems.
• They are also known to produce bioactive compounds with antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumour properties.
• Members of this group are also valued for compounds used in pharmaceuticals, nutrition, and biotechnology.
• Previously, only two species of Sheathia (Sheathia indonepalensis and Sheathia assamica) had been discovered from the Northeast, both in Assam.
• The researchers have proposed that Sheathia meghalayensis be classified as Critically Endangered.

About Phu Quoc Island:

• Phu Quoc, also known as Pearl Island, is a Vietnamese island located in the Gulf of Thailand.
• It is famous for its stretches of white sand beaches.
• A large part of the island is protected under Phú Quốc National Park, which is recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• The highest point on the island is located on Mount Chua.
• Tropical Phu Quoc has just two seasons – six months of dry, sunny weather between November and April and six rainy months between May and October.
• The island’s cultural identity remains deeply rooted in its maritime heritage, with traditional fishing villages like Ham Ninh maintaining age-old customs.
• It is also famous for producing fish sauce (nước mắm) and black pepper, both of which are important local products.

About Khawthlangtuipui River:

• The Khawthlangtuipui, also known as the Karnaphuli, is a transboundary river flowing through India and Bangladesh.
• Course:
  • It originates in the Lushai Hills of Mizoram, India.
  • It extends through the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh before discharging into the Bay of Bengal near the port city of Chittagong.
• Principal tributaries include the Kawrpui River or Thega River, Tuichawng River, and Phairuang River.
• It serves as an important source of irrigation, inland navigation, fisheries, and hydroelectric power for the region.
• The river is home to the Kaptai Dam, Bangladesh's largest hydroelectric power project, which forms the Kaptai Lake, the country's largest artificial lake.

About Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh.
• It lies on the Naugarh and Vijaigarh hillocks on the north slope of the Kaimur Range.
• It is named after the Chandraprabha River, meaning ‘The Luminescence of Moon’.
  • The river is a tributary of the Karamnasha River, and both flow through the forest to finally meet the Ganges.
• In the early 18th century, this area became a hunting ground for the rulers of Varanasi, but eventually, in 1957, the sanctuary was established here.
• Asiatic lions were introduced at Chandra Prabha in 1958.
• The exercise was successful in the beginning, with the number of lions increasing from three to eleven by 1969. However, the following year the lions were found missing.
• The predominant geological formations consist of limestone and sandstone, exhibiting a high thermal mass that moderates temperature fluctuations within the habitat.
• Vegetation: The sanctuary's vegetation is predominantly deciduous forest, interspersed with grasslands, which supports a diverse range of species.
• Flora:
  • Tendu, Blue Berries, Mahua, Goose-berry, Palash, Sal, Neem, Semal, and many other varieties of plantation are found in abundance.
  • Unique and rare medicinal plants used in the formulation of Ayurvedic medicines like Musli, Chitawar, Ashwagandha, Chirata, Sarpgandha, etc. are also found.
• Fauna:
  • Wild animals that dot this sanctuary include Leopard, Sloth bear, Chinkara/Cheetal, Hyena, Fox, Jackal, etc.
  • Many colourful and different species of birds, like Peacock, Red Jungle Fowl, Quail, Partridge, Eagle, Vulture, Wild Mynah, Parakeet, Cuckoo, Barn Owl and the Bulbul are natural inhabitants of this sanctuary.

About Trachynotothrips vyaghravahini:

• It is a new species of insect belonging to the group known as thrips.
• It was discovered inside the bright flowers of a tropical plant in the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats of Karnataka.
• It was named vyaghravahini, which is derived from the ancient Sanskrit words 'vyaghra' (meaning tiger) and 'vahini' (meaning flowing river).
• This name is a direct nod to the specific location where the insect was found, Pilikula, which historically was known as a river where wild tigers frequently came to drink water.
• Unlike similar species, the newly discovered species has a uniformly pale midsection without any brown stripes and entirely pale hind legs.
• Furthermore, it lacks the distinct spine-like hairs on the sides of its abdomen and features a different arrangement of microscopic bristles on its lower body compared to its insect cousins.

What are Thrips?

• Thrips are minute, slender-bodied insects less than 1/16 inch to about 3/16 inch in length.
• Adults that range in color from yellow to black and have four long, narrow, fringed wings.
• The young nymphs are smaller, wingless, and range in color from yellow to white.
• Many thrips are plant feeders attacking flowers, leaves, fruit, twigs, or buds.
• Thrips are rarely seen because of their small size.
• The insects feed by puncturing the surface of the plant parts with their single large mandible and slurping the plant juices that seep from the wound.
• Flowers or leaves may develop silvery streaks. Heavily infested leaves appear brownish or silvery, and growing points may become contorted.
• Some species of thrips leave sooty spots of black fecal matter on the leaves.
• Thrips also vector plant diseases.
• A few species are beneficial predators of mites and small insects including other thrips, and some feed on fungal spores.

About Global Liveability Index:

• It is published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
• Its purpose is to evaluate how suitable cities are for living by measuring everyday living conditions rather than economic size or tourist popularity.
• Coverage: It assesses 173 cities across the world across 30 indicators.
• Parameters: It is grouped into five categories namely
  • Stability (25%)
  • Healthcare (20%)
  • Culture & Environment (25%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Infrastructure (20%)
• Score: It uses a 1–100 scale.

Key Highlights of Global Liveability Index

• The report finds that although the global average liveability score remained unchanged at 1 out of 100.
• Among the five categories, healthcare registered the strongest year-on-year improvement, increasing by an average of 0.74 points.
• Global Top Cities: Copenhagen (Denmark) remains the world's most liveable city, edging out Vienna (Austria) and Melbourne (Australia).
• India: New Delhi ranked 120, followed by Mumbai (121), Chennai (123), and Bengaluru (127).

About Manas Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in the state of Assam.
• Borders:
  • To the north, it is separated from the Royal Manas National Park of Bhutan by the River Manas and its tributaries- Beki and Hakua;
  • To the west, it is separated from the Buxa Tiger Reserve of West Bengal by the River Sankosh.
• It has a unique distinction of being a Natural World Heritage Site, an Elephant Reserve, a Biosphere Reserve and an Important Bird Area.
• Vegetation: It consists of scrub forests, semi-evergreen and mixed deciduous forests, interspersed with grasslands and riparian vegetation (in core area).
• Flora: Sal (Shorea robusta), alluvial savannah woodlands, Riparian fringing forest and Khair-Sisoo forests.
• Fauna: It serves as a crucial habitat for several rare and endangered species, including the tiger, greater one-horned rhino, swamp deer, pygmy hog, and Bengal florican.