The first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit will be held in New Delhi from 1–2 June 2026 and will be a significant conference in the global battle to conserve wild animals. Heads of State, environmental and conservation organisations, scientists, and policymakers from all over the world will be at the summit, all aiming to achieve a positive outcome. The IBCA, initiated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2023, targets international cooperation to boost shared efforts towards the conservation of seven prime species of big cats, such as Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma. The official logo and website of the summit were launched recently by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi.
India to Host First IBCA Summit in New Delhi in June 2026
- The inaugural International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit will be held at the national capital, New Delhi, on 1-2 June 2026 for the first time in India.
- Heads of government, ministers, conservationists, and representatives of countries and observers are expected to attend the summit.
- The summit will be around the theme of “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystems”.
- In April 2023, international collaboration for big cat conservation was encouraged by the launch of the International Big Cat Alliance.
- IBCA works for the protection of these 7 big cats: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
- India is now regarded as a global leader in the field of wildlife conservation, as evidenced by its highly successful project on the reintroduction of cheetahs and Project Tiger.
- As per official statements, it is hoped the summit will foster cooperation and learning in the scientific field, funding support, and sustainable conservation practices within the member countries themselves.
- The summit is expected to be attended by over 400 delegates, comprising scientists, policymakers, financial institutions, and business leaders.
- The summit will also hopefully deepen South-South cooperation and international partnerships on the conservation of biodiversity.
- India has called on all the big cat range countries that have yet to ratify the alliance to join the IBCA before the summit.
Theme and Vision of the IBCA Summit
The first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026 theme is “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystems”. The project symbolises the government’s commitment to preserving wildlife while fostering ecological harmony, climate efforts, and sustainable practices. The official IBCA Summit website states that the summit will help enhance cooperation worldwide for the conservation of seven big cat species and their habitats across 95 range countries. The summit will emphasise policy coordination, scientific cooperation, community involvement, and conservation resources. One of the important outcomes that will emerge from it will be a global conceptual charter for better transboundary cooperation and protection of biodiversity worldwide, the “Delhi Declaration”.
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Conclusion – India to Host First IBCA Summit This June
The first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit was in India in June 2026, underlining the country’s emerging role in conserving wildlife around the world. International cooperation is expected to grow for the protection of endangered big cat species and for the promotion of ecological sustainability when the summit takes place. When the summit is convened, cooperation is expected to increase between countries on the protection of threatened big cat species, as well as on ecological sustainability. The event will also feature discussions with world leaders, scientists, and conservation experts, with the aim of promoting mutual learning and commitment to biodiversity protection. India hopes to foster cooperation and learning about biodiversity protection through discussions with world leaders, scientists, and conservation experts. The event will also help remind the audience to consider the need to reconcile environmental protection and sustainability with resilience for future generations.
