Past Events

The inaugural meeting of the International Steering Committee (ISC) of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was convened on April 16, 2024, in New Delhi, India, under chairmanship of Dr. S.P. Yadav, Interim Director General of IBCA. This significant gathering saw participation from fourteen countries, the Republic of Armenia, People's Republic of Bangladesh, Kingdom of Bhutan, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Ecuador, Arab Republic of Egypt, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Republic of India, Republic of Kenya, Democratic Republic of Malaysia, Federal Republic of Peru, Republic of Suriname, Republic of Uganda and Special Representative of Federal Republic of Mexico and seven partner organizations: Global Tiger Forum, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Sankala Foundation, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Wildlife Institute of India, World Bank, and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) India.

The ISC meeting reviewed the proposed items included in the agenda and recommended them to the Assembly for adoption and ratification. Key items on the agenda included discussions and decisions on administrative arrangements, the Framework Agreement, Rules of Procedure for the Assembly, manual regulations, IBCA Branding, the Work Plan, and the Budget. Each item was deliberated upon comprehensively, ensuring that the decisions were made collaboratively with input from all assembly members.

This meeting marks a pivotal step in the operationalization of IBCA's Mission and Vission to protect and conserve big cat species globally, demonstrating the collaborative effort and commitment of member countries and partner organizations.

The inaugural meeting of the International Steering Committee (ISC) of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was convened on April 16, 2024, in New Delhi, India, under chairmanship of Dr. S.P. Yadav, Interim Director General of IBCA. This significant gathering saw participation from fourteen countries, including the Republic of Armenia, People's Republic of Bangladesh, Kingdom of Bhutan, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Ecuador, Arab Republic of Egypt, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Republic of India, Republic of Kenya, Democratic Republic of Malaysia, Federal Republic of Peru, Republic of Suriname, and Republic of Uganda and seven partner organizations: Global Tiger Forum, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Sankala Foundation, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Wildlife Institute of India, World Bank, and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) India.

The ISC meeting reviewed the proposed items included in the agenda and recommended them to the Assembly for adoption and ratification. Key items on the agenda included discussions and decisions on administrative arrangements, the Framework Agreement, Rules of Procedure for the Assembly, manual regulations, IBCA Branding, the Work Plan, and the Budget. Each item was deliberated upon comprehensively, ensuring that the decisions were made collaboratively with input from all assembly members.

This meeting marks a pivotal step in the operationalization of IBCA's Mission and Vission to protect and conserve big cat species globally, demonstrating the collaborative effort and commitment of member countries and partner organizations.

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) organized a webinar to celebrate International Leopard Day on May 3, 2024, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM IST. The theme of the webinar was “Management Issues in Addressing the Challenges of Leopard Conservation.” IBCA invited eight esteemed speakers to share their work and experiences on leopard conservation. The event was initiated by the Interim Director General of IBCA, Dr. S.P. Yadav, who delivered the welcome address. Mr. Sushil Kumar Awasthi dived into the best practices for Leopard conservation in India, while Dr. Mohammad Farhadinia shed light on the current status of leopards in West and Central Asia. Ms. Maria Okulova shared her insights on the ongoing efforts to preserve the endangered Amur leopard population. Dr. Pradeep Malik offered a unique perspective on the crucial role of Animal Health Professionals in leopard conservation and management. We also learned from Dr. Saket Badola about effectively managing human-leopard conflicts in Uttarakhand. Furthermore, we gained valuable knowledge from Mr. Nityanand Srivastava's presentation on leopard conservation in Gujarat and Mr. Sunil Limaye's fascinating insights into the human-leopard interface in Borivali National Park, Mumbai. Mr. Soumitra Dasgupta, Program Director at IBCA, delivered the closing remarks and Dr. Kausik Banerjee, Program Lead at IBCA, served as the webinar moderator.

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) organized a webinar to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, 2024, from 4 PM to 5 PM IST. The theme of the webinar was “Big Cats & Biodiversity: Shared Future.” IBCA invited five esteemed speakers to share their work and experiences on biodiversity conservation. The event was initiated by the Interim Director General of IBCA, Dr. S.P. Yadav, who delivered the welcome address. Our first speaker, Mr. Subhash Malkhere, shared a fascinating glimpse into the world of Tiger and Leopard conservation in Karnataka, highlighting the unique challenges involved. Dr. Kaustabh Sharma provided valuable insights into Snow leopard conservation and its relation to climate adaptation, while Dr. Ruchi Pant explored the intersection of Snow Leopard and Community Conservation in the Indian Himalayan Range. Prof Matt Heyward delved into the intriguing topic of Intergenerational Inequity with Nature; Dr. Valeria Boron talked about her experience with Jaguar Conservation in Latin America. Mr. Soumitra Dasgupta, Program Director at IBCA, delivered the closing remarks and Dr. Kausik Banerjee, Program Lead at IBCA, served as the webinar moderator.

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) organized a webinar to celebrate Cougar Day on June 12, 2024, from 7 PM to 8 PM IST. The theme of the webinar was “Cougar Conservation: Challenges and Opportunities” IBCA invited three esteemed speakers to share their work and experiences on cougar conservation. The event was initiated by the Interim Director General of IBCA, Dr. S.P. Yadav, who delivered the welcome address. During the event, Mr. Brent Lyies shared exciting updates about the initiatives of the Mountain Lion Foundation. Dr. Alys Granodos captivated the audience with her insights on optimizing puma conservation in California and Patagonia under the Bay Area Puma Project. Additionally, Dr. Seth Riley delved into the conservation challenges and opportunities for mountain lions in urban California, sparking a thought-provoking discussion. Mr. Soumitra Dasgupta, Program Director at IBCA, delivered the closing remarks and Dr. Kausik Banerjee, Program Lead at IBCA, served as the webinar moderator.

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) organized a webinar to celebrate Lion Day on August 10, 2024, from 11:30 AM to 01:00 PM IST. This webinar featured leading experts discussing lion conservation efforts, the current status of lion populations & strategies to protect them. The event was initiated by the Interim Director General of IBCA, Dr. S.P. Yadav, who delivered the welcome address. The webinar was chaired by Mr. Praveen Garg, President, Mobius Foundation who delivered his thoughts on the significance of lion conservation. Professor Matt Hayward shared insights from his extensive experience in the field of prey-predator dynamics. Dr. Dennis Ikanda provided an overview of his ongoing research on lion conservation and management in Kenya. Mr. Soumitra Dasgupta, Program Director at IBCA, delivered the closing remarks and Dr. Kausik Banerjee, Program Lead at IBCA, served as the webinar moderator.

Mr. Soumitra Dasgupta, Director (Program) and Dr. Kausik Banerjee, Lead Specialist, International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) represented IBCA at the UNFCCC COP 29 held at Baku, Azerbaijan. IBCA organized one side event on “The Intersection of Conservation and Development: The Role of the International Big Cat Alliance in Safeguarding Wildlife Corridors” on 14-11-2024 at the pavilion of Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in Blue Zone of COP 29.

The key speakers for the session were Mr. Stewart Maginnis from IUCN and Dr. Koustubh Sharma from Global Snow Leopard Ecosystems Protection Program (GSLEP).

The session highlighted the critical importance of wildlife corridors in maintaining genetic diversity and ensuring the survival of big cat populations. Experts emphasized the need for integrated landscape management to connect fragmented habitats and facilitate safe movement for big cats. The need for robust policies and legal frameworks to protect wildlife corridors was a major takeaway. Panellists called for stronger collaboration between governments, NGOs, and international organizations to ensure the effective implementation of conservation policies. Innovative financing mechanisms, including carbon credits and public-private partnerships, were discussed as potential solutions to address funding gaps for safeguarding big cat landscapes and called for sustained financing in climate change issues, directly impacting biodiversity conservation.

The session also showcased how potentially IBCA can encourage member nations to work together to minimize the negative effects of linear infrastructure on wildlife corridors by focusing on capacity building and sharing best practices, particularly in developing economies. The IBCA's advocacy is likely to persuade countries to prioritize conservation in their development plans. The session highlights the imperativeness of maintaining delicate balance between conservation and development through the prism of the majestic big cats.