In a noteworthy advancement for wildlife conservation, Nepal has formally become a member of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), marking a milestone in its efforts to preserve iconic predators such as the tiger, snow leopard, and common leopard. The IBCA, a multi-country, multi-agency coalition spearheaded by India, announced on Saturday that Nepal had signed the Framework Agreement, thereby solidifying its membership in this important conservation platform. The Alliance characterized Nepal’s entry as a “significant step towards shared ecological security,” highlighting the nation’s rich biodiversity and its critical role in securing the future of these majestic species.
The journey to this accomplishment is underpinned by Nepal’s remarkable success in wildlife conservation. In just over a decade, the nation has nearly tripled its tiger population, raising the numbers from a modest 121 in 2009 to an impressive 355 in 2022. This achievement, drawn from the latest available census data, signals the efficacy of Nepal’s robust conservation policies, community-led efforts, and international collaboration. The IBCA underscored that Nepal’s varied landscape—with habitats that support the snow leopard, tiger, and common leopard—will further bolster global cooperation in big cat preservation.
Established in April 2023 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the IBCA emerged during the commemorative event marking 50 years of India’s Project Tiger. The Alliance was conceived as a global initiative to unite nations committed to protecting seven principal big cat species: the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. With its headquarters based in New Delhi, the IBCA functions as a platform for range and non-range countries alike to share expertise, technology, and financial support for habitat preservation and anti-poaching initiatives.
Nepal’s formal accession bolsters the alliance’s credibility and reach. The IBCA extends congratulations to the Government of Nepal for taking this step, which aligns with broader goals of ecological resilience and biodiversity conservation. As a country that serves as a habitat to several of the big cats the Alliance seeks to protect, Nepal’s membership is both symbolic and strategic.
This development unfolds against a backdrop of increasing international efforts to scale up conservation initiatives. The IBCA, now comprising a growing list of member nations—including Armenia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Liberia, Nicaragua, Somalia, and Suriname—operates through a general assembly and a structured governance framework to coordinate global conservation efforts. Its objective is to cultivate synergy in conservation practices across countries, offer technical and financial assistance, and pave the way for a world where big cats and their habitats prosper in harmony with human development.
For Nepal, joining the IBCA offers a path to leverage collective wisdom, secure funding, and engage in cross-border initiatives that enhance the survival chances of these endangered species. This strategic alliance signals a renewed global commitment to preserving big cats and preserving the balance of ecosystems that hinge on their existence.
, marking a milestone in efforts to preserve iconic predators){kind=link}