Bangladesh has become the latest member of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), a global coalition launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023. The announcement was made on Wednesday via the IBCA's official social media account on X, welcoming the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh as its newest member country.
IBCA Welcomes Bangladesh
In a post on X, the IBCA stated: "The International Big Cat Alliance (#IBCA) warmly welcomes the Government of the People's Republic of #Bangladesh as its newest Member Country. This important milestone strengthens international cooperation for the conservation of #BigCats and their habitats, and reinforces our shared commitment to safeguarding these iconic species and the ecosystems they inhabit for future generations."
The IBCA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 during the event 'Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger'. The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of IBCA with its headquarters in India on February 29, 2024.
Objectives and Scope
The alliance aims to conserve seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. Membership is open to all UN countries, particularly range countries where these species are found, as well as non-range countries interested in supporting big cat conservation, according to a statement from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
IBCA is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition that includes big cat range countries, non-range countries with an interest in conservation, conservation partners, scientific organisations engaged in big cat research, and business groups committed to supporting conservation efforts.
Collaborative Conservation Efforts
The primary objective of IBCA is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise into a centralised repository. The official website notes that this unified approach, bolstered by financial support, aims to bolster the conservation agenda, halt the decline in big cat populations, and reverse current trends. IBCA seeks to lead by example, bringing together range countries and other stakeholders onto a common platform to champion the cause of big cat conservation on a global scale.
