New Delhi: In a powerful diplomatic push for global wildlife conservation, India has issued a clarion call to every nation that shares its territory with tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, or pumas to immediately join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and participate in the landmark Global Big Cats Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi in 2026.
The appeal was made by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, while chairing a high-level interactive meeting titled “Collaborative Initiative for Big Cat Conservation” under the IBCA framework on 8 December 2025. The closed-door session saw the presence of Ambassadors and High Commissioners from big cat range countries along with senior officials of the Government of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision Takes Centre Stage
Reiterating that the International Big Cat Alliance is a personal vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Minister Yadav described IBCA as a “partnership-driven global initiative anchored in trust, mutual respect and shared responsibility.” He stressed that the alliance goes beyond symbolism and serves as a practical platform where nations can “share strengths, learn from each other, and contribute to a global partnership that protects species, safeguards ecosystems, and builds climate resilience for generations to come.”
Seven Majestic Species Under One Umbrella
Launched by India in 2023, the International Big Cat Alliance is the world’s first dedicated international body focused exclusively on the conservation of all seven major big cat species found on Earth:
- Tiger
- African & Asiatic Lion
- Leopard
- Snow Leopard
- Cheetah
- Puma (Cougar)
- Jaguar
Interestingly, India is the only country that harbours five of these seven species (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard and cheetah), making it uniquely positioned to lead global efforts.
Structure and Current Status of IBCA
- Headquarters & Secretariat: New Delhi, India (already operational)
- Nature: Multi-country, multi-agency coalition
- Current Membership: 18 full member countries + 3 countries with Observer status
- Additional Partners: Conservation organisations, scientific bodies, business groups and corporates
- Eligibility: Every UN member state is eligible to join as a full member
- Governance: The IBCA Assembly, comprising one representative from each member country, is the apex decision-making body
Several leading international conservation organisations are already actively contributing to the initiative.
Why Big Cats Matter More Than Ever
Minister Yadav highlighted that big cats are not merely “charismatic megafauna” but perform irreplaceable ecological functions:
- Apex predators that regulate prey populations
- Keystone species that prevent overgrazing and promote forest regeneration
- Facilitate seed dispersal and maintain biodiversity
- Their habitats act as massive carbon sinks, directly contributing to climate change mitigation
- Serve as flagship species – conserving them automatically protects thousands of other species sharing the same habitat
“Lions are the only big cats that live in social groups called prides; all others lead solitary lives,” the Minister noted, underlining the fascinating behavioural diversity within the group.
Major Threats Facing the World’s Big Cats
Despite their ecological importance, big cat populations worldwide are under severe threat primarily from:
- Habitat loss due to deforestation and land-use change
- Rapid urbanization and infrastructure expansion
- Increasing human-wildlife conflict
- Poaching and illegal wildlife trade
These factors have pushed several big cat species to the brink of extinction in many countries.
India Invites the World to the Global Big Cats Summit 2026
In a major announcement, India will host the inaugural Global Big Cats Summit in New Delhi in 2026 – an event expected to become the most significant international gathering ever held exclusively for big cat conservation.
Minister Yadav extended a personal invitation to every big cat range nation to attend the summit and actively exchange:
- Successful conservation strategies
- Scientific research and monitoring techniques
- Community-based conservation models
- Anti-poaching and habitat restoration best practices
- Funding and technology-sharing mechanisms
The summit is envisioned as a turning point that will catalyse coordinated global action at an unprecedented scale.
“Conservation is Not Activism, It’s Our Lifestyle” – India’s Unique Approach
Shri Bhupender Yadav powerfully articulated India’s conservation philosophy by declaring, “Conservation is not activism, it’s our lifestyle.” He emphasised that India’s approach seamlessly integrates nature-based solutions with developmental goals, rooted deeply in the country’s cultural and civilizational ethos.
The Minister argued that true economic progress must be measured not only through GDP but through enhancement of ecological balance and ecosystem services. India’s success in increasing its tiger population from ~1,400 in 2006 to over 3,600 today, reintroducing cheetahs after 70 years of extinction, and creating 50+ dedicated tiger reserves was presented as a replicable model for the world.
A New Operational Phase for IBCA
With its permanent Secretariat now fully functional in New Delhi, the International Big Cat Alliance has formally entered its next phase of operations. The alliance is rapidly expanding its membership base and forging partnerships with global conservation bodies, research institutions, and corporate CSR wings, and philanthropies.
Shared Resolve for Coordinated Global Action
The high-level interaction concluded on an optimistic note with all participants expressing a shared resolve to:
- Deepen knowledge-sharing
- Strengthen institutional capacity building
- Develop joint funding mechanisms
- Launch coordinated landscape-level conservation programmes
- Harmonise monitoring and reporting standards across range countries
India reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to work shoulder-to-shoulder with every big cat range nation to secure a sustainable future for the planet’s seven iconic big cat species and the ecosystems they represent.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Summit to Script History
As the countdown begins for the Global Big Cats Summit 2026, the global conservation community is watching closely. The summit has the potential to become what the Paris Climate Summit was for climate change – a defining moment for big cat conservation worldwide.
With India at the helm, backed by Prime Minister Modi’s vision and an operational alliance headquartered in New Delhi, the International Big Cat Alliance is poised to usher in a new era of international cooperation that places the world’s most majestic predators – and the health of our planet – first.
For range countries yet to join IBCA, the message from New Delhi is clear and urgent: the time to act is now. The future of tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and pumas – and the ecosystems they hold together – depends on collective action today.
FAQs
1. What is the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and who can join it?
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is the world’s first dedicated global platform launched by India in 2023 for the conservation of all seven major big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, puma, and jaguar. It is open to all 193 UN member countries as full members, while conservation organisations, scientific bodies, and corporates can join as partners. As of December 2025, 18 countries are full members and 3 countries have Observer status. The permanent Secretariat is located in New Delhi, India.
2. Which seven big cat species does the IBCA protect, and why are they important?
The seven species are:
- Tiger
- Lion (African & Asiatic)
- Leopard
- Snow Leopard
- Cheetah
- Puma (also known as cougar or mountain lion)
- Jaguar
These are apex predators and keystone species. They regulate prey populations, prevent overgrazing, promote seed dispersal, maintain forest health, and their habitats serve as massive carbon sinks that help fight climate change. Protecting big cats automatically protects thousands of other species sharing the same ecosystem.
3. When and where will the Global Big Cats Summit 2026 be held?
India will host the inaugural Global Big Cats Summit in New Delhi in 2026 (exact dates to be announced). The summit will bring together all big cat range countries, conservation experts, scientists, and international organisations to share strategies, best practices, and launch coordinated global action for big cat conservation.
4. Why is India leading global big cat conservation efforts?
India is the only country in the world that is home to five of the seven big cat species (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, and cheetah). It has achieved remarkable success in tiger conservation (population increased from ~1,400 in 2006 to over 3,600 today) and successfully reintroduced cheetahs after 70 years of extinction in the wild. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally launched IBCA in 2023, and India now hosts the permanent IBCA Secretariat in New Delhi.
5. How can my country join the International Big Cat Alliance?
Any UN member country – whether it currently has big cats or not – is eligible to join as a full member. Countries need to formally express their intent to the IBCA Secretariat in New Delhi. Big cat range countries have been personally invited by Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav to join immediately and participate in the Global Big Cats Summit 2026. Non-range countries interested in conservation are also welcome to contribute to this global effort.
