World leaders hail India’s efforts of conserving big cats

New Delhi: The Ministers of Big Cat Range countries “acknowledged and appreciated” India’s efforts of conserving big cats and lauded the Prime Minister’s initiative of launching the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA).

The Ministers called it a “momentous event” and said the alliance will strengthen global efforts and partnerships on big cat conservation.

Forest Minister of Bhutan in his eloquent speech accepted the leadership of India in guiding them.

His passing remarks like may Goddess Chamundi shower her blessings on all of the forest fraternity and his words “सब का साथ, सब का विकास, सब का विश्वास और  सब का प्रयास” in Hindi reverberated around the hall.

The Forest Minister of Bangladesh praised India for helping in their conservation efforts and said this effort is saving their pride which is Sundermani and Chittagong tigers.

Cambodia’s Forest Minister said he was enthusiastic in getting tigers from India and rehabilitating them in the Cardamom Hills and in their Sripok Wildlife Sanctuary.   He also spoke about the re-introduction plan prepared by them.

Minister, of Wildlife, and Tourism of Kenya, through her video message, lauded the help rendered by the India and Indian Forest Service, in formulating the protocols, and good managerial practices, in the conduct and evaluation of Census results of wild animals especially Lions in her country.

Minister, Nepal, accepted the leadership of India in the field of wildlife conservation and offered all support to the alliance.

Ethiopian Forest Minister without mincing words expressed his greatest satisfaction in being a part of an endeavor to save big cats all around the world.

 The Regent of Pahang was all praise for India’s efforts and wanted assistance in the recovery of the tiger population in Malaysia.

Besides this Ministers and heads of delegations of Suriname, Armenia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Vietnam, Thailand and  Lao also expressed their appreciation for the initiative.

On 9th April 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)at Mysuru, Karnataka,  to commemorate the 50 years of Project Tiger.  

The aim of the project is to conserve seven big cats namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma harboring our planet.

“Wildlife protection is not a one-country issue but a universal one”, the Prime Minister said, stressing the need for an International Alliance.

In 2019, the Prime Minister called for an alliance against poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Asia on Global Tiger Day, and the International Big Cat Alliance is an extension of this spirit.

India has a long-standing experience on the tiger agenda and conservation of other big cats like a lion, snow leopard, and leopards, now the translocation of the Cheetah to bring an extinct big cat back to its natural habitat.  

The alliance aims to reach out to 97 range countries covering the natural habitats of Tiger, Lion, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah.

Chairing the Ministerial session on the global status of big cat conservation Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said conserving big cats and their habitats can secure some of the most important natural ecosystems on earth.

 He said the Alliance will strengthen global efforts and partnerships on big cat conservation, while evolving a platform for the convergence of knowledge and best practices, supporting existing species-specific inter-governmental platforms.

 “With big cats as mascots for sustainable development and livelihood security, India and the big cat range countries can usher in major efforts on environmental resilience and climate change mitigation,” he said.