Overview
- The International Big Cat Alliance Summit, which convenes June 1–2 in New Delhi, is expected to adopt a Delhi Declaration pledging habitat protection, wildlife corridors, cross‑border cooperation, One Health surveillance, sustainable finance and capacity building.
- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the alliance will share best practices from Project Tiger and other Indian programs, including technology‑based monitoring, regular population assessments and community‑led conservation.
- IBCA will emphasize South‑South cooperation through training, memorandums of understanding and knowledge‑sharing to help countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America strengthen protection and funding for big‑cat landscapes.
- At home, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has launched Phase I of the 'Tiger outside Tiger Reserves' initiative across 40 forest divisions in nine states with early‑warning tech, rapid response teams, conflict mitigation and community training.
- Yadav said a second free‑ranging Asiatic lion population remains under consideration with state consultations under way, and he added that cheetah reintroduction uses temporary enclosures for acclimatization with the goal of full free‑ranging release.