ACTION PUNJAB NEWS Desk: As many as 16 nations including Brazil, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Malaysia have formally joined India’s newly created big cat alliance, Environment Ministry officials announced on Friday.
In addition, nine international organisations, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF International), have decided to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).
On Thursday, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which will have headquarters in India. This alliance seeks to launch ‘Big Cat Diplomacy’ while simultaneously promoting a green economy.
The programme would prioritise the conservation of seven key big cats: tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, pumas, snow leopards, and cheetahs.
India has also announced a one-time financial support of Rs 150 crore over five years, from 2023-24 to 2027-28.
Speaking to reporters, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that 16 countries have already committed to join the IBCA.
Furthermore, authorities from the Environment Ministry expect other countries to join in the near future.
“We have received consent from 16 nations as alliance members and 9 international organisations. We are expecting more countries to join soon,” he added.
Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah are five of the seven big cats found in India.
The International Big Cat Alliance has been conceived as a multi-country, multi-agency alliance with the goal of promoting mutual cooperation across countries in order to advance the conservation agenda.
Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Suriname, and Uganda are the alliance’s 16 member countries.
Meanwhile, nine international organisations have given consent: IUCN, Science and Conservation International Snow Leopard Trust, Global Tiger Forum, FAO; HE Zurab Pololikashvii, Secretary General of UNWTO; The Amur Tiger Centre; WWF International; World Customs Organisation, Midori Paxtor; and Director Nature Hub Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP.
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