International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), Project Tiger, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Global Tiger Forum (GTF), Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP), Big Cat Species, CAMPA Fund, Sustainable Development Goal 15
Big cat conservation, Transboundary species protection, India’s wildlife diplomacy, Tiger census, NTCA framework, Biodiversity and SDGs, Eco-tourism and conservation
May 1, 2025
7
mins read
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is an India-led global initiative launched in 2023 to conserve the seven big cat species — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah. It aims to build international cooperation to tackle threats such as poaching, habitat degradation, illegal wildlife trade, and human-animal conflict.
The initiative builds on India's success with Project Tiger and marks a transition from national efforts to a global conservation mandate. As of early 2025, IBCA has five member countries — India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, and Liberia — and is open to all 97 range countries of big cats.
IBCA serves as a knowledge-sharing platform and facilitates joint research, funding, and conservation efforts across member nations.
The International Big Cat Alliance focuses on the conservation of seven major big cat species found across the globe:
Tiger – Primarily found in India, Southeast Asia, and Russia; classified as Endangered.
Lion – Mostly inhabits Africa and a small population in India’s Gir Forest; listed as Vulnerable.
Leopard – Distributed across Africa and parts of Asia, including India; listed as Vulnerable.
Snow Leopard – Inhabits the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia; classified as Vulnerable.
Jaguar – Found mainly in Central and South America; listed as Near Threatened.
Puma – Also known as Cougar or Mountain Lion, found from Canada to South America; classified as Least Concern but facing habitat threats.
Cheetah – Primarily found in Africa with a small population in Iran; reintroduced to India recently; classified as Vulnerable.
These species have been chosen due to their ecological significance, transboundary range, and conservation urgency.
Table of content
The IBCA is designed to strengthen conservation efforts for the world's big cat species through a collaborative international approach. Its major objectives include:
Promote Conservation of All Big Cats: To protect Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah across their natural habitats.
Combat Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade: Create coordinated enforcement frameworks to prevent trafficking in big cat body parts and derivatives.
Facilitate Knowledge Sharing and Research: Encourage scientific studies, best practice exchanges, and technical cooperation between countries.
Promote Community-Based Conservation: Integrate local communities into conservation strategies for sustainable coexistence.
Leverage Funding and Technology: Enable access to global financial and technological resources for conservation programs.
Membership: Open to all 97 range countries of the seven big cat species and other interested nations and organizations. As of early 2025, India officially became a member of IBCA, alongside Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, and Liberia.
Headquarters: The Secretariat is based in India, reinforcing India’s leadership role in conservation diplomacy.
Funding: India has pledged ₹150 crore (approximately $18 million) for the initial five years (2023–2028). Additional funding will be sourced from bilateral and multilateral donors, CSR, and voluntary contributions.
Governance: IBCA is modelled after the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and operates through an Assembly of Members, a Standing Committee, and a Secretariat. The Director-General is appointed by India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).-
Headquarters: Proposed to be based in India.
Funding: Supported by India's initial grant of $100 million for the first 5 years, and later through voluntary contributions, CSR funds, and international partners.
Governance: Envisaged to operate with a general assembly, a council, and a secretariat. It will work in tandem with global agencies like CITES, UNEP, GTF, and GSLEP.
Conservation Legacy and Experience Sharing: India has launched multiple flagship programs such as Project Tiger (1973), Project Lion, Project Snow Leopard, and Project Cheetah, showcasing its long-standing commitment to big cat protection. It hosts four of the seven big cat species and has pioneered methods like digital surveillance (M-STrIPES), camera trap-based censuses, and habitat connectivity models — now being adopted by other nations.
Global Environmental Diplomacy and Soft Power: IBCA enhances India’s stature as a responsible environmental leader and facilitates strategic partnerships in the Global South. Anchoring the alliance in India enables knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and further boosts India’s soft power diplomacy.
India has undertaken a variety of dedicated initiatives and institutional measures to conserve its big cat populations. Key efforts include:
Project Tiger (1973): Launched to protect tigers and their habitats, it has evolved into one of the most successful conservation programs globally.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to strengthen tiger conservation governance.
Project Lion: Aims to protect the Asiatic Lion population in Gir National Park and expand its habitat to new areas.
Project Snow Leopard: Focuses on conservation of Snow Leopards and their unique high-altitude ecosystems in five Himalayan states.
Project Cheetah: Facilitates the reintroduction of African Cheetahs in India, beginning with Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
All India Tiger Estimation: A quadrennial exercise using camera traps and GIS to scientifically estimate tiger populations.
CAMPA Funds: Used for compensatory afforestation and habitat restoration measures for wildlife, including big cats.
Eco-sensitive Zones and Corridors: Established around national parks to reduce human-wildlife conflict and ensure safe wildlife movement.
These efforts reflect India's strong commitment to wildlife conservation and its position as a leader in protecting big cat species.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
The NTCA, a statutory body under the MoEFCC, was established in 2005 following the Tiger Task Force's recommendations and gained legal status under Section 38L of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006.
Objectives: Grants statutory authority to Project Tiger, ensures federal accountability in tiger reserve management and addresses local livelihood concerns around tiger reserves.
Complex Threat Landscape and Capacity Gaps: Big cats are under pressure from poaching, habitat loss, illegal trade, and human-wildlife conflict. Meanwhile, member countries vary in conservation capacities, making coordinated efforts difficult.
Financing and Long-Term Commitment: While India has provided seed funding, sustained international financing through CSR, donor agencies, and partnerships is essential for long-term operations.
Institutional Integration: IBCA must align with existing frameworks such as CITES, Global Tiger Forum (GTF), and GSLEP to prevent duplication and ensure synergy.
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Big Cats | Habitat | Gestation Period (Days) |
|---|---|---|
Tiger | Temperate, tropical and evergreen forests, mangrove and grasslands | 95-110 |
Cheetah | Shrublands, grasslands, savannas and temperate to hot deserts | 90-95 |
Leopard | Forests, subtropical and tropical regions, Savannas, deserts and rocky and mountainous regions | 90-105 |
Lion | Open plains, dry thorn forests and grasslands | 100-110 |
Snow Leopard | Northern and central Asia mountains | 90-105 |
The International Big Cat Alliance represents a bold step in global biodiversity governance. India, leveraging its conservation legacy, has not only committed to protecting its own big cats but also extended this vision worldwide. For UPSC aspirants, IBCA exemplifies the intersection of environmental policy, international relations, and sustainable development — making it a topic of high relevance for both Prelims and Mains.
