Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Bangladesh has formally joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), the New Delhi-headquartered global coalition established by India to conserve the world’s seven principal big cat species, adding yet another South Asian nation to an alliance that has grown significantly since its launch.
The IBCA confirmed Bangladesh’s accession on June 24, describing it as a meaningful milestone in strengthening international cooperation for the protection of big cats and their natural habitats. Welcoming Bangladesh as its newest member, the alliance noted that the addition reinforces the shared global commitment to safeguarding these apex predators and the ecosystems they depend on for future generations.
The International Big Cat Alliance was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2023 during a commemorative event marking 50 years of Project Tiger, held in Mysuru, Karnataka. The alliance is dedicated to the conservation of seven big cat species: the tiger, lion, snow leopard, leopard, jaguar, puma, and cheetah. Its primary mandate is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among member states, consolidating best practices in conservation into a centralised repository accessible to all members.
India’s credentials as the natural host and driving force of the IBCA are well established. The country is home to the world’s largest tiger population and has achieved significant conservation gains with the lion in Gujarat, the snow leopard in high-altitude zones of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh, and more recently the cheetah through the ambitious Project Cheetah reintroduction programme.
For Bangladesh, accession to IBCA carries particular relevance given the presence of Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans, one of the world’s largest mangrove ecosystems and a transboundary habitat shared with India. Bangladesh’s formal membership signals an intent to deepen cooperation with India and other IBCA members on cross-border tiger conservation, habitat protection, and anti-poaching measures.
As of mid-2026, the IBCA has grown to include a diverse membership spanning South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America, reflecting the genuinely global character of the alliance and the breadth of big cat range countries it brings together.
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