INDIA has formally approved the establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance or IBCA this week.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated seven large cat species as vulnerable or endangered worldwide.
The alliance seeks to preserve and protect these species which include the lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah.
India approved a 1.5 Billion Rupee financial support package on Thursday for the next five years.
The role of large cats as top predators in the ecosystem are important for biodiversity conservation.
However, poaching and destruction of their habitat are putting their existence in danger.
At least 96 countries showed interest to participate in the coalition while 16 have formally joined such as Brazil, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Cambodia, Kenya, and Egypt.
Additionally, nine organizations have given consent to join the alliance.
It was in April 2023 when India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi first introduced the initiative.
India, which recently overtook China as the country with the largest population, also owns the largest tiger population in the world.
Thanks to its Project Tiger campaign launched in 1973 and is set to commemorate its 51st anniversary on April 9, 2024. It is interesting to note that the tiger is also the national animal of India.
