Background and Context

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is organizing thematic events across India to showcase the country's achievements in big cat conservation and promote the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), a global initiative led by India.

These precursor programmes are designed to build awareness and strengthen stakeholder engagement ahead of the 1st IBCA Summit scheduled in New Delhi on 1st–2nd June 2026.

India's Five Wild Big Cat Species and Conservation Focus

1. Asiatic Lion - Gir, Gujarat

  • Theme: "India's Unique Conservation Success"
  • Key Focus Areas:
  • Gir, Gujarat hosts the world's only population of Asiatic Lions
  • Successful implementation of Project Lion
  • Role of the Maldhari community in conservation
  • State-led rescue and rapid response teams

2. Tiger - Chandrapur, Maharashtra

  • Theme: "Flagship of India's Forest Conservation"
  • Key Focus Areas:
  • India hosts over 70% of the world's wild tigers
  • National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
  • Project Tiger
  • Corridor protection
  • AI-enabled monitoring through M-STrIPES (Management System for Tiger-oriented Ecological Resources)

3. Leopard - Bhubaneswar, Odisha

  • Theme: "Coexistence in Human-Dominated Landscapes"
  • Key Focus Areas:
  • Human-wildlife conflict mitigation
  • Public awareness campaigns
  • International Day for Biological Diversity
  • Ecosystem restoration

4. Snow Leopard - Gangtok, Sikkim

  • Theme: "Sentinel of the Himalaya"
  • Key Focus Areas:
  • Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI)
  • Climate-resilient conservation
  • Protection of fragile high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems

5. Cheetah - Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

  • Theme: "Restoring India's Grassland Ecosystems"
  • Key Focus Areas:
  • World's first intercontinental translocation project for large carnivores
  • Cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa
  • Grassland restoration
  • Long-term habitat management

Key Institutions and Programs

  • Project Tiger: Launched in 1973, India's flagship conservation program for tiger protection
  • Project Lion: Focused on conservation of Asiatic lions in Gujarat
  • NTCA: National Tiger Conservation Authority - statutory body for tiger conservation
  • M-STrIPES: AI-enabled monitoring system for tiger population tracking
  • SPAI: Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India

Significance for India

  1. Global Leadership: India leads the International Big Cat Alliance, positioning itself as a global conservation leader
  2. Biodiversity Hotspot: India is home to diverse big cat species across varied ecosystems
  3. Community Involvement: Integration of local communities like Maldharis in conservation efforts
  4. Innovation: Use of AI and modern technology in wildlife monitoring
  5. Transboundary Conservation: International collaboration for species conservation