International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and India

India has recently urged all countries with big-cat habitats to participate in the Global Big Cats Summit to be held in New Delhi in 2026, and to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). This reflects India’s commitment to wildlife conservation and its intent to build stronger global cooperation for species protection.

IBCA: Concept and Significance

Establishment & Objective

• Launched: 2023, on the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.
• Objective: To strengthen global cooperation for the conservation of seven big cat species and their habitats.

Seven Big Cat Species Covered by IBCA

1. Tiger
2. Lion
3. Leopard
4. Snow Leopard
5. Cheetah
6. Jaguar
7. Puma

India hosts five of these seven species (all except Jaguar and Puma).

Headquarters

• New Delhi, India

Nature of the Alliance

• A multinational and multi-agency coalition aimed at large-scale scientific, financial, and collaborative action.

Eligible Members

• 95 countries where big cats naturally occur
• Countries without big cats but interested in conservation
• Scientific institutions, conservation partners
• All UN member states
• Nine international organizations have agreed to join IBCA so far.

Financial Support

• India has committed ₹150 crore (2023–24 to 2027–28) as initial budgetary support.

Conservation Status of Big Cats

IUCN Red List Status

• Endangered: Tiger
• Vulnerable: Lion, Cheetah, Snow Leopard, Leopard
• Near Threatened: Jaguar
• Least Concern: Puma

Legal Protection in India

• The five big cat species found in India are listed under the
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedules I & IV
  • CITES Appendix I (highest level of international protection)

India and Big Cats: Foundation of Global Leadership

India is home to the world’s largest population of tigers and hosts five big cat species:

• Tiger
• Asiatic Lion
• Leopard
• Snow Leopard
• Cheetah (reintroduced in 2022)

India has successfully implemented conservation programmes such as:

• Project Tiger
• Lion Conservation Programme
• Snow Leopard Landscape Conservation
• Cheetah Reintroduction Project

IBCA builds upon this leadership and expands it to a global platform.

Ecological Importance of Big Cats

1. Apex Predators

• Maintain ecological balance by regulating herbivore populations.
• Prevent overgrazing and ensure vegetation health.

2. Keystone Species

• Their decline disrupts entire ecosystems.
• Conservation benefits numerous associated species.

3. Seed Dispersal and Forest Sustainability

• Indirectly aid seed dispersal by preying on small mammals and birds, supporting forest regeneration.

4. Carbon Sink Protection

• Intact habitats such as forests and grasslands, maintained through predator–prey balance, act as major carbon sinks, aiding climate mitigation.

5. Flagship Species

• Charismatic species that promote public awareness.
• Their conservation leads to protection of broader ecosystems.

Major Threats and Challenges

1. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

• Deforestation, infrastructure expansion, and land-use change shrink and divide natural habitats.

2. Human–Wildlife Conflict

• Habitat compression pushes big cats towards settlements, increasing livestock depredation, human casualties, and retaliatory killings.

3. Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade

• High demand for tiger skins, bones, and leopard parts fuels transnational illegal trade.

4. Climate Change

• Alters snow leopard habitats; reduces prey base; shifts ecosystems upward.

5. Genetic Bottlenecks

• Small and isolated populations suffer from inbreeding (e.g., Asiatic lions confined to Gir Forest).

Global Importance of IBCA

1. Platform for International Cooperation

• Facilitates joint scientific research, technology exchange, habitat management, and monitoring.

2. Funding and Technical Support

• Can mobilize global financial resources for conservation, community participation, and capacity building.

3. Strengthening Action Against Wildlife Crime

• Enhances collaboration to counter transnational poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

4. Climate–Biodiversity Integration

• Aligns big cat conservation with
  • climate policies,
  • nature-based solutions,
  • and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

5. Boost to India’s Soft Power

• Strengthens India’s role in global biodiversity diplomacy and showcases successful conservation models.

Way Forward (UPSC Perspective)

1. Transboundary landscape management – Joint conservation strategies across the Himalayas, Sundarbans, Central Asia, etc.
2. Community-Based Conservation (CBC) – Enhancing livelihood support and conflict-mitigation measures in buffer zones.
3. Advanced Monitoring Technology – AI-enabled camera traps, drones, genetic sampling (e-DNA).
4. Legal recognition and restoration of wildlife corridors – Ensuring landscape connectivity.
5. Strengthening enforcement mechanisms – Cross-border intelligence sharing and integrated databases to curb wildlife crime.
6. Climate-resilient conservation models – Particularly for snow leopard ecosystems and grasslands required for cheetahs.
7. Awareness and education campaigns – Leveraging flagship species to build broader conservation ethics.