“What we often call wildlife conservation is, in fact, climate action in its most natural form.” — Bhupender Yadav, Union Environment Minister
Saudi Arabia formally became the 26th member of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) on 22 May 2026, making it the newest country to join India’s flagship global wildlife conservation initiative. The IBCA now comprises 26 member countries and 5 observer nations. Saudi Arabia’s entry comes just days before India hosts the first-ever IBCA Summit on 1 June 2026 in New Delhi — expected to adopt the historic ‘Delhi Declaration’, the first global declaration exclusively dedicated to big cat conservation.
26IBCA Member Countries
7Big Cat Species Protected
₹150 CrIndia’s 5-Year Funding
75%World’s Wild Tigers in India
📊 Quick Reference
Full FormInternational Big Cat Alliance
Launched9 April 2023 by PM Modi, Mysuru
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
Director GeneralDr S P Yadav (Retd. IFS)
Legal StatusInternational entity since 23 Jan 2025
Modelled OnInternational Solar Alliance (ISA)
📜 What is the International Big Cat Alliance?
The IBCA is a treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation headquartered in New Delhi, India. It was formally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 April 2023 in Mysuru, Karnataka, to mark the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.
Union Cabinet approval: February 2024
Legal international entity status: 23 January 2025
Headquarters Agreement: Signed 17 April 2025 between Ministry of External Affairs and IBCA — formalising New Delhi as permanent seat
Genesis: PM Modi’s Global Tiger Day speech on 29 July 2019 — calling for a global alliance against poaching and illegal wildlife trade
Governed by: Assembly of Members, Standing Committee, and Secretariat
🎯 Simple Explanation
Think of IBCA as a “United Nations for Big Cats” — but led by India. Just like the International Solar Alliance (ISA) united countries to fight climate change through solar energy, IBCA unites countries to fight the extinction of tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, snow leopards, jaguars, and pumas.
1973
Project Tiger launched in India — the conservation model IBCA is built on
29 July 2019
PM Modi’s Global Tiger Day speech — first call for a global big cat alliance
9 April 2023
IBCA formally launched by PM Modi at Mysuru, Karnataka (50th anniversary of Project Tiger)
February 2024
Union Cabinet approves establishment of IBCA with secretariat in India
23 January 2025
IBCA attains legal international entity status after ratification by founding members
17 April 2025
Headquarters Agreement signed — New Delhi confirmed as IBCA’s permanent seat
22 May 2026
Saudi Arabia joins as 26th member country
1 June 2026
First IBCA Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi; ‘Delhi Declaration’ to be adopted
✨ Objectives and Four Pillars of IBCA
The IBCA’s primary objective is the conservation of seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. Its functioning rests on four pillars:
Pillar
What It Does
Knowledge Exchange
Centralised repository of conservation best practices; India’s Project Tiger as gold standard
Capacity Building
Institutional support for anti-poaching, wildlife monitoring, habitat management
Resource Mobilisation
Common funding platform; bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector contributions
Advocacy & Awareness
Transboundary cooperation; linking big cat conservation with climate action and SDGs
💭 Think About This
Big cats are apex predators — they regulate prey populations and maintain healthy vegetation, creating ecosystems that act as carbon sinks. This means saving a tiger indirectly helps fight climate change. The IBCA is therefore simultaneously a wildlife and a climate initiative — a rare case of biodiversity and climate goals aligning perfectly.
🌍 Member Countries and Observer Nations
IBCA membership is open to all UN member states — both range countries (where big cats naturally occur) and non-range countries that wish to support conservation. Saudi Arabia is a non-range member whose participation strengthens the alliance’s resource base and diplomatic reach.
Category
Count
Notable Countries
Member Countries
26
India, Russia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia (newest)
Observer Nations
5
Kazakhstan, Namibia, Thailand, Ecuador, Vietnam
Int’l Organisations
9
Associated multilateral bodies
✓ Quick Recall
India is home to 5 of 7 big cats: Tiger ✅ Lion (Asiatic) ✅ Leopard ✅ Snow Leopard ✅ Cheetah ✅ | Jaguar ❌ Puma ❌ (Americas only). India is the ONLY country in the world with 5 of the 7 IBCA species.
📌 The Global Big Cat Crisis: Why IBCA is Urgent
Big cat populations have declined by 30 to 60 per cent over the past three decades, driven by habitat loss, poaching, prey depletion, and climate-driven fragmentation.
Species
Current Population
Decline Context
Tiger
Fewer than 3,900
India holds ~75% of world total
Lion
~20,000
Down from 50,000 in the 1990s
Snow Leopard
4,000 – 6,500
High-altitude habitat loss
Cheetah
~6,517
Down from 25,000 in 1970
⚠️ Exam Trap
Don’t confuse IBCA with ITF (International Tiger Forum). ITF addressed only tigers. IBCA covers all 7 big cat species and is the first multilateral body to do so. Also — IBCA is modelled on ISA (International Solar Alliance), NOT on any UN body.
🌍 India’s Conservation Record: Foundation of IBCA
India’s leadership of IBCA is grounded in demonstrated domestic success:
Project Tiger (1973): India holds ~75% of world’s wild tiger population; doubled tiger count ahead of target
Asiatic Lion: Population growing steadily at Gir National Park, Gujarat
Project Cheetah (2022): Reintroduction of cheetahs to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh — most recent conservation landmark
India’s institutional expertise — scientific management protocols, community participation models, habitat frameworks — is what IBCA aims to replicate as a “gold standard” for member states across Africa and Central Asia.
📌 First IBCA Summit 2026 and the Delhi Declaration
India will host the first IBCA Summit on 1 June 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, followed by technical sessions on 1–2 June at Hotel Taj Palace. The summit will bring together Heads of State, conservation experts, multilateral agencies, financial institutions, and corporate leaders — over 400 global stakeholders.
Key outcome: adoption of the ‘Delhi Declaration’ — the first-ever global declaration exclusively dedicated to big cat conservation. The declaration will articulate shared conservation priorities, strengthen transboundary cooperation, and promote a landscape-based approach. India has invited 95 big cat range countries for the summit.
Summit theme: “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem.”
🧠 Memory Tricks
7 Big Cat Species (IBCA):
“TiLLy SCan JaP” — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma. India has the first 5 (TiLLy SC); Jaguar & Puma are Americas-only.
IBCA Key Dates:
“2023 Launch → 2024 Cabinet → 2025 Legal → 2026 Summit” — One milestone per year since launch.
IBCA vs ISA:
Both are India-led multilateral alliances. ISA = Solar energy. IBCA = Big cats. Both headquartered in India. IBCA is modelled on ISA’s structure.
Saudi Arabia’s IBCA significance:
“26th member, non-range country” — Saudi Arabia has no native big cats but joined for conservation diplomacy. Shows IBCA is global, not just for range countries.
📚 Quick Revision Flashcards
Click to flip • Master key facts
Question
When and where was IBCA launched, and by whom?
Click to flip
Answer
IBCA was launched on 9 April 2023 by PM Narendra Modi in Mysuru, Karnataka, to mark the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. It attained legal international entity status on 23 January 2025.
Card 1 of 5
🧠 Think Deeper
For GDPI, Essay Writing & Critical Analysis
🌍
India has built two major global alliances — ISA (solar energy) and IBCA (big cats). What does this pattern reveal about India’s emerging model of multilateral diplomacy?
Consider: India’s soft power strategy; “leadership through expertise” model; how ISA and IBCA both headquarter in India; comparison with Western-led multilateral bodies; India’s positioning at COP summits; the Global South narrative.
⚖️
Should wildlife conservation treaties include non-range countries like Saudi Arabia? Does financial contribution justify membership without ecological stakes?
Think about: How ISA includes non-solar countries; financial vs. ecological responsibility; whether wealthy non-range nations dilute conservation focus or strengthen it; precedents in climate finance (developed nations paying for developing-nation emissions reductions).
🎯 Test Your Knowledge
5 questions • Instant feedback
Question 1 of 5
When was IBCA formally launched and on the occasion of which anniversary?
A) 9 April 2023 — 50th anniversary of Project Tiger
B) 29 July 2019 — Global Tiger Day
C) 23 January 2025 — Republic Day
D) 9 April 2024 — 51st anniversary of Project Tiger
Explanation
IBCA was launched on 9 April 2023 by PM Narendra Modi in Mysuru, Karnataka, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger (1973). It attained legal entity status on 23 January 2025.
Question 2 of 5
Which two of the seven IBCA big cat species are NOT found in India?
A) Tiger and Cheetah
B) Snow Leopard and Lion
C) Jaguar and Puma
D) Leopard and Cheetah
Explanation
IBCA protects seven big cat species. India is home to five — Tiger, Lion (Asiatic), Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Cheetah. Jaguar and Puma are found only in the Americas.
Question 3 of 5
As which numbered member did Saudi Arabia join IBCA, and on what date?
A) 24th member, 9 April 2026
B) 26th member, 22 May 2026
C) 25th member, 1 June 2026
D) 27th member, 22 May 2026
Explanation
Saudi Arabia joined IBCA as the 26th member country on 22 May 2026. It is a non-range member that strengthens the alliance’s financial and diplomatic reach.
Question 4 of 5
IBCA is structurally modelled on which other India-led international initiative?
A) SAARC
B) BRICS
C) Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
D) International Solar Alliance (ISA)
Explanation
IBCA is modelled on the International Solar Alliance (ISA) — another India-led multilateral initiative. Both are headquartered in India and use a similar governance structure of Assembly, Standing Committee, and Secretariat.
Question 5 of 5
What is the ‘Delhi Declaration’ and when is it expected to be adopted?
A) A bilateral India-Saudi conservation MoU; signed 22 May 2026
B) A UN resolution on tiger conservation; adopted at UNGA 2026
C) First global declaration on big cat conservation; to be adopted at IBCA Summit on 1 June 2026
D) India’s national wildlife policy document; tabled in Parliament June 2026
Explanation
The Delhi Declaration will be adopted at the first IBCA Summit on 1 June 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It will be the first-ever global declaration exclusively dedicated to big cat conservation.
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📌 Key Takeaways for Exams
1
Saudi Arabia: Joined IBCA as 26th member on 22 May 2026. IBCA now has 26 members + 5 observer nations (Kazakhstan, Namibia, Thailand, Ecuador, Vietnam).
2
IBCA Launch: 9 April 2023 by PM Modi at Mysuru, Karnataka — 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. Legal entity status: 23 January 2025. HQ: New Delhi.
3
7 Big Cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma. India is home to 5 (all except Jaguar and Puma) — the ONLY country with 5 of 7 IBCA species.
4
Modelled on ISA: IBCA is structurally modelled on the International Solar Alliance. India’s funding: ₹150 crore for 5 years (2023–24 to 2027–28). DG: Dr S P Yadav.
5
Delhi Declaration: First-ever global declaration on big cat conservation — to be adopted at the first IBCA Summit, 1 June 2026, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Theme: “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem.”
6
Crisis Numbers: Tigers <3,900 globally; Lions ~20,000 (down from 50,000 in 1990s); Cheetahs ~6,517 (down from 25,000 in 1970). India holds ~75% of world’s wild tigers.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)?
IBCA is a treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation headquartered in New Delhi, launched by PM Modi on 9 April 2023 to conserve seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. It attained legal international entity status on 23 January 2025 and is modelled on the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Why did Saudi Arabia join IBCA if it has no native big cats?
IBCA membership is open to all UN member states — including non-range countries. Saudi Arabia’s membership strengthens the alliance’s financial resource base and diplomatic reach. Non-range wealthy nations contribute to funding conservation corridors and combating illegal wildlife trade networks globally — much like how non-solar countries contribute to the ISA.
What is the Delhi Declaration?
The Delhi Declaration is the first-ever global declaration exclusively dedicated to big cat conservation. It will be adopted at the first IBCA Summit on 1 June 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It aims to articulate shared conservation priorities, strengthen transboundary cooperation, and promote a landscape-based approach for big cats and their habitats.
Which five big cats are found in India?
India is home to five of the seven IBCA species: Tiger (India holds ~75% of world’s wild tigers), Asiatic Lion (Gir National Park, Gujarat), Leopard, Snow Leopard (Himalayan region), and Cheetah (reintroduced at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh via Project Cheetah 2022). Jaguar and Puma are found only in the Americas.
How is IBCA different from the International Tiger Forum (ITF)?
The International Tiger Forum (ITF) addressed the conservation of tigers only. IBCA covers all seven big cat species and is the first multilateral body to do so under a single framework. The Delhi Declaration, when adopted, will be the first international commitment to all seven species simultaneously — something the ITF never achieved.
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