New Delhi— India and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) signed a landmark Headquarters Agreement on Thursday, officially designating India as the host country for the IBCA’s Headquarters and Secretariat. The agreement outlines the administrative, legal, and operational framework necessary to help the organization achieve its global wildlife conservation objectives.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi by P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs, and S.P. Yadav, Director General of IBCA.
According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the agreement covers provisions related to visas, privileges, and immunities for IBCA personnel, as well as regulations concerning premises, supplementary agreements, and general operational protocols. The Government of India will provide financial support of ₹150 crore (approximately $18 million) from 2023–24 to 2028–29 to fund IBCA’s infrastructure, corpus, and recurring expenditures.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger in Mysuru, IBCA was established as a formal intergovernmental organization and international legal entity in January 2025 following Cabinet approval in February 2024.
IBCA’s mission is to promote the conservation of seven major big cat species: the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. The alliance aims to foster collaboration among range countries, conservation partners, research institutions, and private sector stakeholders, consolidating global best practices and scientific expertise to protect these apex predators and their ecosystems.
“The initiative seeks to foster international collaboration for the sustainable future of big cats, as well as underscores India’s leadership and commitment to global wildlife conservation,” the MEA said in its statement.
To date, 27 countries, including India, have joined IBCA, with many national and international wildlife conservation organizations also partnering with the alliance. The coalition includes a total of 95 countries with big cat populations or a vested interest in their conservation, along with scientific institutions and corporate partners dedicated to supporting the cause.
The signing of the Headquarters Agreement marks a significant step in global big cat conservation, reaffirming India’s leadership in wildlife protection and its broader commitment to sustainable environmental stewardship. (Source: IANS)
