Overview
The MoEFCC will organise a series of five thematic events across India to showcase the nation’s big‑cat conservation milestones and to build momentum for the IBCA summit scheduled for 2026. Each event focuses on one of the five wild big‑cat species that occur in the country – Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Cheetah – and highlights achievements, challenges and collaborative actions of the Union and State governments.
Key Developments
- Asiatic Lion Conservation Programme – Gir, Gujarat: Emphasis on Project Lion, scientific monitoring, prey augmentation and community involvement of the Maldhari pastoralists.
- Cheetah Conservation Programme – Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Launch of Project Cheetah, habitat preparation, prey‑base development and satellite‑collar tracking.
- Leopard Conservation & International Day for Biological Diversity – Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Conflict‑mitigation teams, rescue‑rehabilitation infrastructure, public awareness drives and capacity building for forest staff.
- Snow Leopard Conservation Programme – Gangtok, Sikkim: Implementation of the SPAI programme, community‑based stewardship and climate‑resilient habitat management.
- Tiger Conservation Programme – Chandrapur, Maharashtra: Strengthening of tiger reserves, corridor protection, use of camera traps, Project Tiger, deployment of the NTCA, and voluntary village relocation.
Important Facts
- India harbours >70% of the world’s wild tiger population, making it the largest global tiger stronghold.
- The Asiatic lion survives only in the Greater Gir landscape, a unique conservation success story.
- Snow leopards serve as indicators of Himalayan ecosystem health; climate change poses a growing threat.
- Project Cheetah marks the world’s first inter‑continental translocation of a large carnivore, aiming to restore a species extinct in India since the 1950s.
- All five events are scheduled before the IBCA summit, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and international cooperation.
Exam Relevance
These programmes illustrate the interplay of environmental governance (GS2: Polity), wildlife conservation (GS1: Environment), and federal‑state coordination. Aspirants should note how flagship schemes like Project Tiger and Project Lion are leveraged to meet international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The IBCA showcases India’s diplomatic leadership in global wildlife policy, a topic relevant for GS2 (International Relations) and GS4 (Ethics – stewardship of natural heritage).
Way Forward
- Scale up habitat corridors and community‑based monitoring to ensure long‑term viability of all five species.
- Strengthen inter‑state mechanisms for rapid response to human‑wildlife conflict, especially for leopards and tigers.
- Integrate climate‑adaptation strategies into snow‑leopard conservation plans.
- Leverage the IBCA summit to formalise data‑sharing protocols and joint funding mechanisms with partner countries.
- Promote eco‑tourism and livelihood alternatives for forest‑dependent communities to sustain conservation incentives.