India’s Environment and Forest Minister, Bhupender Yadav, highlighted that India harbors five of the world’s seven recognized big cat species during the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit-2026 pre-event in Gujarat’s Sasan Gir. The IBCA, initiated in 2023 under the Prime Minister’s guidance to enhance global wildlife conservation collaboration, will convene in New Delhi on June 1 and 2. The summit aims to unite global leaders, wildlife experts, scientists, and corporate representatives to discuss conservation strategies for major feline species and other wildlife.
Yadav pointed out that the seven global big cat species, including tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, and pumas, are distributed across 55 countries. Notably, India boasts the presence of five of these species — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, and cheetah, which is a source of national pride. The upcoming summit is expected to unveil the Delhi Declaration, a pivotal document for fostering wildlife conservation cooperation globally.
Highlighting Gujarat’s lion conservation efforts, Yadav commended the state for emerging as a global exemplar in this field. While lion populations face decline in various regions worldwide, the Asiatic lion population in Gujarat has surged by 32% to 891. Gujarat’s lion conservation model, including the development of new habitats like the Barda sanctuary region, has garnered admiration, becoming a point of pride for the local populace.
The summit’s overarching theme will revolve around wildlife conservation in tandem with safeguarding humanity and the Earth’s ecosystem. Yadav stressed the importance of striking a balance between development and environmental preservation, emphasizing that “Nature protects those who protect nature.” He also underscored India’s cultural ethos of showing compassion towards all living beings, advocating that conservation is imperative for the well-being of all life forms.
As part of the IBCA pre-events, initiatives focusing on cheetah conservation in Bhopal, leopard conservation in Bhubaneswar, snow leopard conservation in Gangtok, and tiger conservation in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur are scheduled.
