International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• International Big Cat Alliance was launched by PM recently.
• IBCA aims to protect and conserve seven major big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah – in collaboration with membership of 97 range of countries harbouring these species.
• IBCA will provide assured support over five years with guaranteed funding of over Rs. 800 crores.
• Earlier in 2019, PM called for an Alliance of Global Leaders to curb poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Asia.
• India is the only country in world to have 5 big cats in wild (except pumas and jaguar).
• IUCN Status of cat species in India:
  • Endangered -Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lions;
  • Vulnerable– Snow Leopards, African Cheetahs;
  • Least Concern- Common Leopard.
• Need of protecting these species
  • Big cats are apex predators whose loss can set off “trophic cascade,” wherein prey populations may explode, resulting in overgrazing and degrading health of landscape.
  • Protecting tiger habitats means protecting forests which facilitates fighting climate change.
  • Ecotourism helps economic growth.

Other related news

• In addition, PM also released 5th cycle of India’s Tiger Census.
• The number of tigers in India has increased by 6.74 percent from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,167 in 2022.
• The tiger population has grown the most in the Shivalik hills and Gangetic flood plains, followed by central India, the north eastern hills, the Brahmaputra flood plains, and the Sundarbans.
• Tiger population declined in Western Ghats, North East Hills & Brahmaputra Plains.
• Periyar Tiger Reserve (TR), Kerala is best-maintained of all TRs followed by Satpura TR (Madhya Pradesh), Bandipur and Nagarhole (Karnataka).