06 March 2025; Daily Current Affairs Updates

Lake Tanganyika ; GS-1 (Geography) ▪️Why in the News:

The governments of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia have launched a five-year project to assess and address transboundary threats to the biodiversity of the Lake Tanganyika Basin.

> About:

• Lake Tanganyika is a prehistoric lake situated in East Africa, known for its remarkable depth

> Bordering Nations:

• The lake is shared by Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and Zambia:

> Geographical Characteristics:

It is among the deepest lakes in the world and holds the distinction of being the longest freshwater lake, stretching over 400 miles.

First-Ever Dolphin Survey in India; GS-3(Env and Ecology) ▪️Why in the news:

PM Modi recently released the results of the first-ever comprehensive population estimation of riverine dolphins - Gangetic and Indus dolphins - done in India.

> Key Findings from the First Comprehensive Dolphin Survey (2021-2023):

• The total estimated population of Gangetic dolphins was 6,324, with a range between 5,977 and 6,688 individuals.

• The survey recorded only three Indus River dolphins, all found in the Beas River in Punjab.

> State-wise Dolphin Distribution:

• Uttar Pradesh had the highest population of Gangetic dolphins, with 2,397 individuals.

• Bihar followed closely with 2,220 dolphins, while West Bengal recorded 815.

• Jharkhand reported 162 dolphins, whereas Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh together had 95.

• Punjab was the only state where Indus River dolphins were observed, with a count of three in the Beas River.

> Dolphin Population Hotspots and Coldspots:

• The survey identified river stretches with high (hotspots)and low (coldspots) dolphin densities.

Coldspots:

• The Narora-Kanpur stretch in Uttar Pradesh had a low encounter rate of just 0.1 dolphins per kilometer. Other coldspots included:

Yamuna River (Kaushambi-Chitrakoot).

• Sharda River in Pilibhit.

Wallace Line ; GS-3 (Env and Ecology) ▪️Why in the news:

The Wallace line explains the difference in species across continents.

> About:

The Wallace Line is an imaginary faunal boundary that demarcates the ecological regions of Asia and Australia.

• Identification and Location:

• The boundary was first recognized by British explorer Alfred Russel Wallace in 1863 during his field studies.

• It runs through the Lombok Strait between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok in the south and extends northward through the Makassar Strait, separating Kalimantan (Borneo) from Sulawesi.

• Significance of the Wallace Line:

The line is notable for separating distinct animal species found in Asia from those in Australia.

• On the western side (near Asia), species such as orangutans, tigers, and rhinos are present.

On the eastern side (closer to Australia), animals such as tree-kangaroos and Komodo dragons are found.

World Wildlife Day; GS-3 (Environment and Ecology) ▪️Why in the news:

PM Modi went on a lion safari at Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat's Junagadh district on the occasion of World Wildlife Day, during his tour of the state.

• About:

• World Wildlife Day is observed annually on March 3 to raise awareness about the significance of flora and fauna.

• It serves as a platform to encourage people to support conservation efforts, adopt sustainable practices, and promote harmonious coexistence with nature.

> History of World Wildlife Day:

• The United Nations established this observance in 2013 following a proposal from Thailand to dedicate a day to wildlife conservation awareness.

• On December 20, 2013, the UN General Assemblyofficially designated March 3 :

World Wildlife Day, with the first celebration held in 2014:

• The date was chosen because, on March 3, 1973, the Convention on Internationa Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed.

• CITES is an international agreement aimed at ensuring that wildlife trade does no threaten the survival of plant and animal species.

> World Wildlife Day 2025 Theme:

• The theme for 2025 is "Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet."