According to official sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) on Sunday. The IBCA will concentrate on the protection and conservation of the world’s seven great big cats: the Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah. The alliance was formed in response to Prime Minister Modi’s request in July 2019 for a worldwide alliance to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Asia.
PM Modi’s strong belief and vision to safeguard wildlife and crack down on poachers has resulted in the Centre taking action in this area. Widespread efforts in this area have had a favourable impact on the country’s fauna.
The population of big cats in India has increased since 2014, with the tiger population increasing by 33% from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018. PM Modi will disclose the most recent tiger population estimates on April 9.
Effective conservation management and preservation have also led to a 29% increase in the lion population in Gujarat’s Gir forest (674 in 2020, up from 523 in 2015). The Leopard population, which is widely scattered, has increased by approximately 63%. (from 7910 in 2014 to 12,852 in 2018).
Inspired by PM Modi’s goal, India successfully completed the world’s first-ever wild-to-wild transcontinental translocation of a large cat (Cheetah) in 2022, in an attempt to reintroduce the species to India years after its extinction.
Conservation initiatives are an important part of the government’s endeavour to positively impact the wildlife population. Poaching is being targeted in a similar way. Last year’s efforts bore dividends, with no rhino poaching reported in Assam.
