NEW DELHI: India has officially become the host country for the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), a global coalition working to protect the world’s seven iconic big cats—tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma. The agreement to establish IBCA’s headquarters in New Delhi was signed on April 17 between S P Yadav, IBCA Director General, and P Kumaran from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
The Indian government is backing its commitment with ₹1.5 billion (US$17.5 million) in budgetary support. This funding will help build the alliance’s infrastructure, create a financial corpus, and cover operational costs until the end of 2028–29.
IBCA, formed on January 23, 2025, brings together 95 countries that either have big cats in the wild or are active in global conservation. Members include governments, wildlife scientists, NGOs, and even private sector organisations committed to saving big cats.
India’s leadership in big cat conservation isn’t new—it’s home to over 70% of the world’s wild tigers. Hosting IBCA further strengthens its global position as a conservation hub.
The IBCA aims to foster international collaboration, share research, promote habitat conservation, and mobilise funding to secure the future of these majestic predators. It also plans to encourage the exchange of best practices in wildlife management, law enforcement, and awareness campaigns.
By leading this coalition, India is not just stepping up for its own wildlife but also offering a united front for global species conservation.
