Daily Current Affairs – 2020

Topic: For Prelims and Mains

Kerala’s Red List

Why in news?

Hairy spider Tarantula, found in parts of Kerala, is being traded as a pet and such species are also traded in international markets.

In order to control the above activities, the Kerala State Biodiversity Board has decided to prepare state-specific conservation data of such species to regulate their illegal trade and the undeclared / illegal exploitation of some medicinal plants.

Key Facts:

• Species experts have aimed to produce an interim list on regional-level data of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish by the end of January.
• This list will also provide information about the conservation status of molluscs found in land and water, including fishes, odonates, spiders, freshwater crabs.
• It is noteworthy that under the Biodiversity Act 2002, the National Biodiversity Authority was also established in the year 2003 with its headquarters in Chennai.

IUCN-Red List:

• IUCN is a global authority to protect the natural state of the world, which was established in the year 1948.
• IUCN is a consortium consisting of both governments and civil society. Its headquarters are located in
• The International Nature Conservation Association IUCN’s Red List is a list of species facing threat of extinction.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) publishes the Red List based on information obtained from a network of various conservation organizations around the world, which shows the most threatened species in the world.
• According to the IUCN, different types of species have been categorized based on the impending crisis or their availability, which are as follows:
• Extinct
• Extinct in the forest
• In grave danger
• In danger
• Vulnerable
• danger Close
• Less related
• Low figure
• Unrated

Facts for Prelims

Shigella Infection:

There have been at least six proven cases of Shigella infection and 20 other suspected cases in Kozhikode district of Kerala, most of them victims.

• Shigella infection is also called shigellosis. It is a type of intestinal infection caused by bacteria called Shigella.
• Symptoms: The main symptom of Shigella infection is diarrhea, which is often bloody.
• Shigellosis is one of the leading causes of diarrhea in India. In addition, the infected person has fever and abdominal pain.