India Becomes Official HQ of International Big Cat Alliance

• 19 Apr 2025

On 17th April 2025, India formalised its role as the headquarters of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), following an agreement signed with the central government.

Key Points

• Treaty-Based Alliance: IBCA became a formal intergovernmental organisation in early 2024, focused on conserving seven big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah.
• IBCA Secretariat: India will host the IBCA secretariat and provide necessary privileges, immunities, and infrastructure under the agreement.
• Financial Support: The Indian government will allocate Rs. 150 crore from 2023–24 to 2028–29 for corpus creation, infrastructure, and operational costs.
• Global Participation: The alliance came into force after ratification by five countries—India, Liberia, Eswatini, Somalia, and Nicaragua.
• Launch & Leadership: IBCA was launched in April 2023 by PM Narendra Modi during Project Tiger's 50th anniversary.
• Diplomatic Provisions: The agreement outlines privileges like visas and immunities for IBCA personnel to facilitate its global functioning.