Why in the News?
The first Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was held on June 16, 2025, in New Delhi, with the Union Environment Minister presiding over the session.
About the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
- Overview: It is a multi-country, multi-agency alliance of 95 countries, both range and non-range, dedicated to the conservation of big cats and their habitats.
- Launch: Proposed by PM Modi in 2019, the alliance was officially launched in April 2023 to mark Project Tiger’s 50th anniversary.
- Conservation Focus: IBCA seeks to protect and restore populations of 7 big cats: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
- Core Functions: The alliance works through advocacy, knowledge exchange, promotion of eco-tourism, and resource mobilisation.
- Conflict Resolution: It aims to reduce human-wildlife conflict and restore degraded habitats critical to big cat survival.
- Global Participation: IBCA brings together 95 range countries from:
- Asia: India, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran
- Africa: Kenya, Congo, Ghana
- Americas: Brazil, Ecuador, United States
- Europe/Central Asia: Russia, Kazakhstan
- Members: Bhutan, Eswatini, Cambodia, Guinea, India, Liberia, Nicaragua, Somalia and Suriname have deposited an instrument of ratification.
- Institutional Structure: It is governed by a General Assembly, an elected Council, and a secretariat led by a Secretary-General.
- Permanent Base: The ratification of the headquarters agreement has enabled IBCA to set up its permanent headquarters in India.
India’s Role:
- Species Richness: India is home to 5 of the 7 big cats—the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, and cheetah—and holds 70% of the world’s tiger population.
- Funding Commitment: The Indian government has committed ₹150 crore (2023–2028) and is attracting additional global contributions to support the alliance’s goals.
- Conservation Leadership: India plays a leading global role in big cat protection, setting benchmarks in wildlife conservation and ecological stewardship.
| [UPSC 2024] Consider the following statements:
1. Lions do not have a particular breeding season. 2. Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar. 3. Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only * (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 2 |
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