International Big Cat Alliance holds its first assembly in Delhi

Further, the assembly unanimously endorsed Bhupender Yadav, India’s environment minister as the president of IBCA. The assembly also endorsed SP Yadav as the director general of IBCA

New Delhi: The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) held its first assembly at its Delhi headquarters on Monday.

A pair of Asiatic lion and lioness, seen in their enclosure on a hot summer day, at Sarthana Nature Park in Surat, India. (PTI)

The assembly approved the Headquarters Agreement signed with India, work plan, rules of procedure and the manual of staff and financial regulations.

These will serve as the guiding foundation for the effective governance, operations, and collaborative initiatives of IBCA.

The assembly also endorsed the proceedings of the first International Steering Committee meeting of IBCA, which was held in April 2024, according to a statement by India’s environment ministry.

Further, the assembly unanimously endorsed Bhupender Yadav, India’s environment minister as the president of IBCA. The assembly also endorsed SP Yadav as the director general of IBCA.

Created by the Government of India, the IBCA is a coalition of 95 range countries with a mandate for the conservation of seven big cats namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.

The assembly, which is the apex body of IBCA, was attended in Delhi by ministerial delegations from Bhutan, Cambodia, Eswatini, Guinea, India, Liberia, Suriname, Somalia and Kazakhstan.

The IBCA was established by the Government of India, through its nodal organisation viz. National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2024. The primary objective of IBCA is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among range countries and other stakeholders.