India to Host First International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit

India is set to host the first-ever International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in New Delhi. The summit will bring together Heads of State, ministers, conservation experts, scientists, and representatives from big cat range countries to strengthen global cooperation for the conservation of big cats. The event reflects India’s growing leadership in global wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection.

Key Highlights of the Summit:

The summit will be organised under the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), a treaty-based global alliance launched by India for the conservation of major big cat species across the world.

Participation

Representatives from around 95 big cat range countries are expected to participate.

More than 400 delegates, including policymakers, wildlife experts, and conservation practitioners, are likely to attend the summit.

Organising BodyInternational Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

What is the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)?

The International Big Cat Alliance is a global multi-country and multi-agency initiative launched by India to protect and conserve the world’s seven major big cat species.

Big Cats Covered Under IBCA

The alliance focuses on the conservation of:

Tiger

Lion

Leopard

Snow Leopard

Cheetah

Jaguar

Puma

The alliance aims to:

Strengthen international cooperation in wildlife conservation

Protect natural habitats of big cats

Promote anti-poaching measures

Encourage scientific research and monitoring

Support transboundary conservation initiatives

Headquarters of IBCA: New Delhi, India.

Importance of the Summit

Global Wildlife Conservation

The summit is expected to become a major international platform for discussing:

Biodiversity conservation

Climate resilience

Wildlife protection strategies

Human–wildlife conflict management

Cross-border conservation cooperation

India’s Leadership Role

India is home to:

Around 70% of the world’s tiger population

A significant leopard population

Asiatic lions in Gir National Park

Reintroduced cheetahs under Project Cheetah

The summit highlights India’s leadership in global big cat conservation efforts.

Proposed “New Delhi Declaration”:

Reports suggest that a “New Delhi Declaration” on big cat conservation may be adopted during the summit.

The declaration is expected to focus on:

International conservation cooperation

Habitat protection

Sustainable wildlife management

Ecological security.

India’s Major Big Cat Conservation Programmes:

Project Tiger:

Launched in 1973

Objective: Conservation of Bengal Tigers and their habitats

Project Lion:

Focuses on conservation of Asiatic Lions in Gujarat

Project Snow Leopard:

Aims to conserve snow leopard habitats in the Himalayan region

Project Cheetah:

Initiative to reintroduce cheetahs in India

African cheetahs were introduced in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh