India to Host 1st International Big Cat Summit:
India announced that it will host the 1st International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in New Delhi from 1st – 2nd June, 2026.
- Delhi Declaration: The summit is expected to adopt the ‘Delhi Declaration’, the first global declaration on big cat conservation, aimed at promoting shared priorities, transboundary cooperation, and a landscape-based approach for protecting big cats and their habitats.
- Theme: The summit will be guided by the theme — “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem.”
- IBCA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, and was formally approved by the Union Cabinet in February 2024.
- IBCA was established through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- It functions as a global platform to share conservation expertise, fund conservation initiatives, and create a repository of technical knowledge.
- The initiative’s main objective is the conservation of seven major big cat species: the Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
- It currently has 24 member countries, 5 observer countries (Kazakhstan, Namibia, Thailand, Ecuador, and Vietnam), and several range countries that encompass the natural habitats of big cats in the wild.
- All the United Nations member countries are eligible to become members of IBCA.
- Big Cats are under threat due to habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and human-wildlife conflicts.
- Conservation at a global scale is required to halt population decline and reverse negative trends.
- India has committed Rs. 150 crore (2023-2028) in support to the IBCA and is exploring additional funding through bilateral, multilateral, and donor organizations.
