IWN Daily Digest — Sunday, 18 May 2026

The clock is ticking. India hosts the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in New Delhi on 1–2 June — two weeks away — and the diplomatic picture is filling in.

As of this week, 14 countries have confirmed participation. India has extended invitations to all 95 big cat range countries across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Saudi Arabia is set to join as the 26th member of the Alliance.

The summit’s centrepiece is the Delhi Declaration — the first-ever global declaration on big cat conservation, intended to articulate shared priorities, strengthen transboundary cooperation, and establish a landscape approach to protecting big cats and their habitats. Theme: Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem.

Technical sessions follow on 1–2 June, with senior government officials, conservation practitioners, and partner organisations from range countries in attendance. A curated exhibition — tribal art, wildlife photography, immersive film — runs alongside.

IBCA covers seven species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. Launched by Prime Minister Modi in 2023 at Project Tiger’s 50th anniversary and formally approved by the Union Cabinet in February 2024, the Alliance is headquartered in India, which has committed ₹150 crore over 2023–2028 to its operations.

IWN will track summit outcomes and the final text of the Delhi Declaration.

Sources: ANI via Deccan Chronicle · Press Information Bureau

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