Ahead of summit, IBCA deliberating on ‘Delhi Declaration’ for big cat conservation

Established in 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, IBCA is a first-of-its-kind platform that brings together countries which are home to the seven big cats -- lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma.

Ahead of its first summit in June here, the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is hashing out a declaration acceptable to its members, officials said on Monday. To be called the Delhi Declaration, it will be a key outcome of the International Big Cat Alliance Summit 2026, which will bring together world leaders, experts and partners to discuss the future of big cat conservation. Two rounds of deliberation have already taken place, according to the officials. ''The declaration will articulate shared priorities, strengthen transboundary cooperation and promote a landscape-based approach for conserving big cats and their habitats,'' said an official. The summit will focus on seven key areas, including strengthening global co-operation in big cat conservation, showcasing best practices and innovations in the management of big cats, and promoting policy and institutional synergy in habitat conservation. Established in 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, IBCA is a first-of-its-kind platform that brings together countries which are home to the seven big cats -- lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma. Currently, there are 25 signatory countries and five observer countries as part of the IBCA, and Saudi Arabia will also soon join the alliance, according to officials. Globally, 23 countries in the Americas host puma and jaguar, 42 African countries have lion, cheetah and leopard, and 30 Asian nations have lion, cheetah, leopard and snow leopard. Officials said that, given India's successful conservation and repopulation efforts, such as Project Tiger, the country has taken the initiative to lead the alliance to protect the world's big cats.