International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
( UPSC Prelims)
News Context
India and the IBCA have entered into the Headquarters Agreement to establish the IBCA Headquarters and Secretariat in India, facilitating the efficient execution of IBCA's official duties.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
Genesis: Initiated by India in 2023 to mark 50 years of Project Tiger
Entity Type: Treaty-based inter-governmental international organization and legal entity.
Aim: Conservation of 7 big cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard (Vulnerable), Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar (Near threatened), and Puma (Least Concern).
▷ All except Puma and Jaguar are found in India and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Membership: A multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 95 big cat range countries, and non-range countries interested in big cat conservation.
▷ Founding Members (16): Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Suriname, & Uganda.
Budgetary support from India: 150 crore for 5 years from 2023-24 to 2028-29.
IBCA Assembly: Acts as the apex decision-making body, convened at least once every 2 years.
▷ New Delhi hosted the 1st assembly of IBCA in 2025, endorsed by India's Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, as President of IBCA.