Bhupendra Yadav elected President of International Big Cat Alliance

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav, has been unanimously elected as the President of the International Big Cat Alliance(IBCA). Bhupendra Yadav was elected as the President of the IBCA at the first Assembly of IBCA in New Delhi on 16 June 2025.

The IBCA is an initiative of India, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 April 2023 in Mysuru, Karnataka, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. 

IBCA is a multinational/multi-agency coalition of 95 big cat range countries, non-range countries, conservation partners, and scientific organisations engaged in big cat conservation. It also includes business groups and corporations that sponsor and finance conservation efforts.

First Assembly of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Meeting 

The International Big Cat Alliance came into force on 23rd January 2025 after its framework agreement was ratified by the minimum required countries. 

The first Assembly of the IBCA was held in New Delhi on 16 June 2025 and it was chaired by Bhupendra Yadav.

The Assembly is the apex decision making body of the IBCA and the member countries which have ratified the IBCA agreement attend the meeting. 

The Assembly elected the first President ,Director General of the IBCA, adopted the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, approved the budget of IBCA etc. 

S.P. Yadav of India was elected as the Director General of IBCA.

Members of the IBCA who attended the meeting 

At present, nine countries - India, Bhutan, Guinea, Liberia, Suriname, Cambodia, Eswatini, Somalia and Kazakhstan- have ratified the IBCA Framework and are members of the organisation.

These member countries were represented by their ministerial delegations.

About the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

The International Big Cat Alliance(IBCA) was formally established by the government of India in March 2024.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is the nodal body of the IBCA.

Secretariat of IBCA-  India.

Aim of the IBCA 

• To foster global cooperation in the conservation of seven big cats: the Tiger (Panthera tigris), the Lion (Panthera leo), the Leopard (Panthera pardus), the Puma (Puma concolor), the Jaguar (Panthera onca), the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia), and the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Pumas and jaguars are not found in India.
• Build capacity of the 95 range and non-range countries for effective cat management
• Raise global awareness and promote outreach activities about the conservation of the big cats 
• Mobilise resources and promote synergy with international bodies associated with conservation.