Context: International Big Cat Alliance
India will host the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in New Delhi (June 1–3, 2026) with participation from 95 big cat range countries. The summit is expected to adopt the proposed “New Delhi Declaration” on global big cat conservation.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
- Launched by India — 2023 (50 years of Project Tiger)
- Headquarters — New Delhi
- Covers 7 big cats — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar & Puma
- Focus — habitat protection, anti-poaching cooperation, funding, research & transboundary conservation
Summit & New Delhi Declaration
- Theme — “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem”
- Participants — Heads of State, scientists, conservationists & multilateral agencies
New Delhi Declaration
- First global declaration exclusively on big cat conservation
- Focus — wildlife corridors, anti-poaching, ecosystem conservation, funding & global cooperation
- Proposed — April 2026; likely adoption during summit
India & Big Cat Conservation
- India hosts ~75% of world’s wild tigers.
- Home to Asiatic Lion, Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard & large leopard population.
Conservation Timeline
- Gir Forest protected for Asiatic Lion — 1965
- Project Tiger — 1973
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — 2005
- Project Snow Leopard — 2009
- Asiatic Lion Conservation Project — 2019
- Project Cheetah — 2022
- IBCA — 2023
Significance
- Strengthens India’s wildlife diplomacy
- Enhances cooperation among 95 range countries
- Supports biodiversity & climate-resilient conservation
