India formally joins International Big Cat Alliance

India has formally joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which it launched in 2023. After an approval from the Union Cabinet, India signed and ratified the framework on Thursday, read an official release.

Four nations, including India, Nicaragua, Eswatini and Somalia, have become the IBCA members now. In April 2023, PM Narendra Modi had launched the IBCA with an aim to secure the future of big cats and their landscapes.

Among the seven big cats, five — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard and cheetah — are found in India, excluding puma and jaguar.

“The framework agreement is intended to establish the IBCA to address common challenges for the protection and conservation of seven big cats in the world…,” read the release. ens