EnvironmentGeography
News 21 of 27

Cocaine Hippos (200), Peacock Tarantula (Critically Endangered), Bering Strait, AMOC, Doggerland: Key Facts for Environment & Geography Prelims

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
01 May 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:~200Critically Endangered53 milesWeek 160
Bodies:Andhra Pradesh Forest DepartmentEastern Ghats Wildlife SocietyColombian GovernmentUniversity of Warwick
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The article presents five MCQs covering diverse topics: invasive 'Cocaine Hippos' in Colombia, the critically endangered Peacock Tarantula, the geography of the Bering Strait, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), and the submerged landmass Doggerland.

2.Each question is designed to test key static facts and common examiner traps, such as confusing native regions (Africa vs. South America), IUCN statuses (Critically Endangered vs. Vulnerable), and ocean connectivity (Pacific-Arctic vs. Atlantic-Arctic).

3.The explanations provide strategic depth, linking each news snippet to larger syllabus concepts like ecological impacts of invasive species, roles of endemic species, map-based geography, climate systems, and prehistoric climate change.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

This quiz consolidates five high-yield topics for Environment and Geography, testing factual recall and conceptual clarity. It highlights UPSC's trend of linking current affairs to static concepts like invasive species, endemic fauna, oceanography, and paleogeography, making it essential for targeted revision.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Cocaine Hippos CountAround 200
Peacock Tarantula StatusCritically Endangered
Bering Strait ConnectsPacific & Arctic Oceans
Doggerland LocationSubmerged beneath North Sea

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Cocaine Hippos Count: Around 200
  • ›Peacock Tarantula Status: Critically Endangered
  • ›Target this Data: Hippo population ~200; Tarantula status 'Critically Endangered'
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Colombian Government (for relocation); Andhra Pradesh Forest Department & Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society (for survey)
  • ›Target this Geographic Fact: Bering Strait connects Pacific & Arctic; Doggerland is beneath the North Sea

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which state forest department, in collaboration with a wildlife society, is conducting a conservation survey for the Peacock Tarantula as per the article?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the 'Cocaine Hippos':

1. They are native to the Amazon basin in South America.

2. Their population in Colombia is around 200 and they have no significant natural predators there.

3. They are considered an invasive species and a threat to local fauna like the West Indian manatee.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what is the current conservation status of the Peacock Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica) on the IUCN Red List?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary ecological role of the Peacock Tarantula as described in the article?

All 25 MCQs ▸
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