Context: India has proposed to launch a mega global alliance under its leadership to protect big cats and assured support over five years with guaranteed funding of $100 million.

Background

• India is the only nation in the world to have tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, and cheetahs in the wild since we acquired the cats.

• Except for pumas and jaguars, India has all the big cats here today.

• India taking the initiative to unite all nations in the big cat area under a UN-like organisation is only fitting.

• Alliance was “inspired by the arrival of cheetahs in India” last year from Namibia.

About International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• The proposed International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) will work towards the protection and conservation of the seven major big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah. 

• Membership to the alliance will be open to 97 “range” countries, which contain the natural habitat of these big cats, as well as other interested nations, international organisations, etc. 

• The alliance was inspired by the arrival of cheetahs in 2022 from Namibia.

• Aim: "dissemination of information on benchmarked practises, capacity building, resources repository, research and development, awareness creation, etc., on the preservation and conservation of big cats.

• Functions: "Advocacy, partnership, knowledge e-portal, capacity building, eco-tourism, partnerships amongst specialist groups, and fund tapping" will be some of its main activities.

Governance structure

• General Assembly: IBCA will comprise a General Assembly consisting of all member countries

• Council: Council of at least seven but not more than 15 member countries elected by the General Assembly for a term of 5 years

• Secretariat: IBCA will also have a secretariat which whill deal with all administration work.

• Upon the recommendation of the Council, the General Assembly will appoint the IBCA Secretary General for a specific term.