INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE(IBCA)
1. Context
The first Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was held in New Delhi on Monday (June 16), presided over by the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav.
2. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
- In March 2024, the Indian government, through the National Tiger Conservation Authority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). The alliance is focused on conserving seven major big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
- The initiative seeks to promote cooperation and coordination among various stakeholders, aiming to pool successful conservation strategies and apply them across the countries where these species are naturally found. For this initiative, the central government has earmarked ₹150 crore for the period from 2023–24 to 2027–28.
- There are 95 range countries—nations that lie within the natural habitats of at least one of the big cats. These include countries such as Canada, China, Brazil, Congo, Ghana, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States. By September 2024, 25 nations had agreed to become part of the IBCA, including Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, and Rwanda.
- Membership is open to all United Nations member states, provided they sign the framework agreement and notify their participation through a diplomatic Note Verbale, a formal method of communication used in international relations
3. What was the rationale behind this move?
- In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) during an event in Mysuru, marking 50 years since the launch of Project Tiger. This original conservation program was initiated in response to the alarming decline in India’s tiger population.
- Although there were an estimated 40,000 tigers in the country at the time of Independence, their numbers had dropped drastically to about 1,800 by 1970, largely due to extensive poaching and hunting.
- The decline of top predators like tigers has a cascading effect on ecosystems. According to an IBCA report, these big cats play a vital role in keeping prey populations in check, which helps maintain ecological balance and prevents overgrazing—a factor that can trigger wildfires, disease outbreaks, and other environmental threats.
- Safeguarding big cats also means protecting their habitats, which are often biodiversity hotspots. As a result, big cat conservation has far-reaching benefits such as reducing disaster risks, preserving soil quality, limiting the spread of infectious diseases, enhancing climate resilience, and aiding in climate change mitigation by capturing and storing carbon.
- Project Tiger played a foundational role in establishing dedicated tiger reserves across India. It began with nine protected areas in states such as Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Notable among these were the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, Jim Corbett in Uttarakhand, and Bandipur in Karnataka
4.What are Big Cats?
According to the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), "Big Cats" refer to a group of seven principal species:
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Tiger (Panthera tigris)
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Lion (Panthera leo)
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Leopard (Panthera pardus)
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Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
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Jaguar (Panthera onca)
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Puma (Puma concolor, also known as cougar or mountain lion)
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Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
5. Conservative initiatives by India
a) Project Tiger (1973)
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Launched to halt the declining tiger population.
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Led to the creation of 53 Tiger Reserves under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
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Introduced measures like core-buffer strategy, strict anti-poaching protocols, and use of technology for monitoring (e.g., M-STrIPES, camera traps).
b) Project Lion
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Aims to ensure the long-term conservation of Asiatic Lions, found only in the Gir Forest of Gujarat.
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Focuses on expanding lion habitats beyond Gir, improving prey base, and reducing human-animal conflict.
c) Project Snow Leopard (2009)
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Focuses on community-based conservation in the high-altitude Himalayan region.
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Covers Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir/Ladakh.
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Includes habitat protection and integrating local livelihoods with conservation goals.
d) Cheetah Reintroduction Project (2022)
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Aims to reintroduce the cheetah, extinct in India since 1952.
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African cheetahs brought to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, under a long-term plan to establish a free-ranging population.
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Emphasizes adaptive management and intercontinental collaboration.
6. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body established by the Government of India to protect and conserve tigers and their habitats across the country. It was created under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, through an amendment made in 2006.
- The formation of the NTCA came after increasing concerns about the declining tiger population in India, especially after the shocking disappearance of tigers from the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. This incident highlighted weaknesses in wildlife protection and led to stronger institutional mechanisms for tiger conservation.
- The NTCA works under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Its main objective is to ensure the long-term survival of tigers in their natural habitats while maintaining ecological balance. India is home to the largest tiger population in the world, and therefore tiger conservation is considered an important part of biodiversity conservation in the country.
- The authority plays a major role in implementing “Project Tiger,” which was launched in 1973 to save the endangered tiger population. While Project Tiger initially focused on creating protected tiger reserves, the NTCA strengthened the programme by giving it a legal and institutional framework. Today, the NTCA supervises and coordinates the management of tiger reserves across India.
- One of the most important functions of the NTCA is the approval and monitoring of tiger reserves.
- It lays down guidelines for protection, habitat improvement, eco-development, and management practices in these reserves. It also ensures that states follow scientific conservation methods and maintain proper anti-poaching measures. The authority provides financial and technical support to state governments for conservation activities.
- The NTCA is also responsible for conducting the All India Tiger Estimation, which is carried out every four years. This exercise uses modern scientific techniques such as camera traps, GIS mapping, and pugmark analysis to estimate tiger populations.
- India’s tiger census is considered one of the world’s largest wildlife monitoring exercises. According to recent estimates, India has shown a significant increase in tiger numbers, reflecting the success of conservation efforts.
- Another important role of the NTCA is addressing human-animal conflict. Since many tiger reserves are located near villages and forest-dependent communities, conflicts sometimes arise due to livestock attacks or threats to human life.
- The NTCA promotes coexistence by supporting compensation mechanisms, relocation of villages from critical tiger habitats where necessary, and community participation in conservation activities.
- The authority also focuses on strengthening anti-poaching activities. It coordinates intelligence sharing, wildlife crime control, and training of forest personnel. Poaching remains one of the biggest threats to tigers because of illegal trade in tiger body parts. Therefore, the NTCA works closely with enforcement agencies and conservation organizations to curb wildlife crimes.
- The NTCA has a chairperson, vice-chairperson, members from Parliament, experts in wildlife conservation, and senior government officials.
- The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change serves as the chairperson. This structure ensures coordination between the central government, state governments, scientists, and conservationists.
- Despite its achievements, the NTCA faces several challenges. Habitat fragmentation due to infrastructure projects, mining, urbanization, and climate change continues to threaten tiger corridors.
- Human pressure on forests and conflicts between development and conservation also create difficulties. In recent years, debates have emerged regarding balancing local community rights with strict conservation measures
7. What is Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (MSTrIPES)?
- The Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status, popularly known as MSTrIPES, is a software-based monitoring and patrolling system developed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India.
- It was introduced in 2010 as an advanced technological tool to strengthen tiger conservation and improve the management of tiger reserves across the country.
- The main purpose of MSTrIPES is to help forest officials and wildlife staff monitor tiger habitats more effectively.
- Earlier, patrolling activities and wildlife observations were recorded manually in notebooks, which often led to delays, inaccuracies, and poor coordination. MSTrIPES modernized this process by using GPS-enabled devices, digital mapping, and data collection systems.
- Under this system, forest guards and patrol teams carry GPS devices or mobile applications during their patrols inside tiger reserves. As they move through forests, the system records their routes, timing, and locations.
- Officials can also enter information about tiger sightings, pugmarks, scat samples, prey animals, illegal activities, forest fires, encroachments, or signs of poaching. This data is then uploaded to a centralized database for analysis and monitoring.
- One of the major advantages of MSTrIPES is that it improves protection against poaching. Since patrol routes are digitally tracked, authorities can identify vulnerable areas where patrolling is weak and increase surveillance there.
- It also ensures accountability because supervisors can verify whether forest personnel are regularly covering sensitive regions.
- The system also plays an important role in ecological monitoring. It collects scientific information about tiger populations, prey density, vegetation conditions, and habitat quality.
- Such data helps conservation authorities understand the health of ecosystems and take appropriate management decisions. For example, if prey populations decline in a certain area, steps can be taken to improve grasslands or reduce disturbances.
- MSTrIPES supports the All India Tiger Estimation process by providing reliable field data. It integrates modern technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and digital databases. This makes wildlife management more scientific and evidence-based.
- Another important feature is that it helps in identifying wildlife corridors and movement patterns of tigers. Since tigers require large territories and often move between forests, the system helps authorities track habitat connectivity and plan conservation strategies accordingly.
- However, the system also faces challenges. Effective implementation depends on proper training of forest staff, availability of digital infrastructure, internet connectivity in remote forest areas, and maintenance of devices. In some regions, technical limitations and shortage of manpower can affect its efficiency
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For Prelims: Kuno National Park, Project Tiger, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
For Mains: GS III - Conservation
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Previous Year Questions
1.Consider the following: (UPSC CSE, 2012)
1. Black-necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying squirrel 4. Snow leopard Which of the above are naturally found in India? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Answer (b)
2. The term ‘M-STRIPES’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of (UPSC CSE, 2017)
(a) Captive breeding of Wild Fauna (b) Maintenance of Tiger Reserves (c) Indigenous Satellite Navigation System (d) Security of National Highways Answer (b)
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Source: Indianexpress
