New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) India has entered into a significant agreement with the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) on Thursday, formalizing its role as the host for the IBCA Headquarters and Secretariat. This agreement outlines essential provisions that will enable the IBCA to fulfill its objectives.

The signing of the agreement was executed by P Kumaran, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs, alongside S.P. Yadav, the Director General of IBCA.

The provisions of the agreement cover important aspects such as visas, privileges, and immunities for the IBCA Secretariat and its personnel, including details on the premises, entry into force, supplementary agreements, and general stipulations. The Government of India has committed to providing financial support amounting to Rs 150 crore to the IBCA for establishing a corpus, constructing infrastructure, and addressing recurring expenses for a duration of five years, from 2023-24 to 2028-29,” stated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release.

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2023, during the event 'Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger' held in Mysuru. In a Cabinet meeting conducted in February 2024, the establishment of the IBCA with its headquarters located in India was approved. As of January 2025, the IBCA and its Secretariat were recognized as a complete treaty-based inter-governmental organization and an international legal entity.

The primary mission of the IBCA is to conserve seven species of big cats: Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, Cheetahs, Jaguars, and Pumas. Its objectives include fostering collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation methods, and achieving global conservation of big cats,” the MEA noted.

The initiative emphasizes the importance of international collaboration for a sustainable future for big cats while highlighting India’s leadership and dedication to global wildlife conservation,” it added.

Currently, 27 countries, including India, have agreed to join the IBCA, along with numerous international and national organizations engaged in wildlife conservation that have partnered with IBCA.

IBCA represents a coalition of multiple countries and agencies, encompassing 95 big cat range countries, non-range countries interested in big cat conservation, conservation partners, scientific entities involved in big cat research, and corporate groups committed to supporting conservation efforts for big cats.