International Big Cat Alliance

Why in news?

Recently, India has officially joined theInternational Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which waslaunched by the Prime Minister in 2023

• IBCA aims to protect big cats and their habitats.

Note:

• Though India launchedthe International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)as a global institution, it must still sign and ratify its Framework Agreement, similar to its approach with other international agreements and institutions, such as theParis Agreement, theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and theShanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

About IBCA

• International Big Cat Alliance(IBCA)is amulti-country,multi-agency coalitionof96 big cat range countries,non-range countriesinterested in big catconservation, conservation partners and scientific organizations working in the field of big cat conservation besidesbusiness groupsandcorporates, to establish networks and develop synergies in a focused manner.
• Its idea was1^stfloatedby India’s Prime Minister in2019.
• It was launched inApril 2023to celebrate the50^thanniversary of ProjectTiger.
• The Union Cabinet had allocated a one-time budgetary support of Rs150 crorefor IBCA for a five-year period —2023-24 to 2027-28.
• It aims at conservation ofseven big catsnamelyTiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
• Objectives of IBCA:
• To stop the illegal wildlife trade of the seven big cats.
• To work towards the conservation of natural habitats of the seven big cats.
• Mobilisation of financial and technical resources for implementing the conservation and protection agenda.

Governing structure

• It will consist of anAssembly of Members,Standing Committeeand aSecretariat, with itsheadquarters in India.
• ItsFramework of Agreement(statute) has been drafted largely onthe pattern of the International Solar Alliance.
• The statute of IBCA will be finalised by anInternational Steering Committee.
• ASteering Committeewill be constituted withnominated national focal pointsof founding member countries.
• Appointment of DG by MoEFCC asInterim Head of IBCA Secretariattill IBCA appoints its own DG during Assembly meeting.
• IBCA Assembly atMinisterial levelto be chaired by President, HMEFCC, Gol.

Big Cats

• ‘Big Cat’is a term that is used to apply to anylarge speciesof the familyFelidae. Usually, it applies to the members of the genusPanthera. These include:

1. Tiger(Panthera tigris)
2. Lion(Panthera leo)
3. Jaguar(Panthera onca)
4. Leopard(Panthera pardus)
5. Snow Leopard(Panthera uncia)

• Two other cats, i.ePuma(Puma concolor)andCheetah(Acinonyx jubatus), arenot part of Panthera. But they are usuallyincludedin most listings of ‘big cats’.
• All these cats can usually makevocalisationsknown as ‘roars’.
• TheIndian subcontinenthas been historically home to theBengal tiger,Asiatic lion,Indian leopard,Indian/Asiatic cheetahas well asSnow leopard.
• Thecheetahwas declaredextinct in 1952. In2022, the Government of India embarked on an ambitious programme tointroduceAfrican cheetahsto theKunoNational Parkin MP.