India has postponed the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, which was scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 1. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) announced the decision on Thursday, citing the prior deferment of the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS IV) — and, behind it, the Ebola outbreak spreading across parts of Africa.
The IBCA Summit had been planned in conjunction with IAFS IV because several African nations are home to big cats and are key partners in global conservation efforts. With African heads of state and conservation delegations unable to travel, the ministry said it was essential to reschedule rather than proceed with diminished participation.
“Following the decision taken in consultation with the Chairperson of the African Union and the African Union Commission to convene the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit at a later date, it has been decided that, to ensure broad and active participation from all range countries, including African countries, the first IBCA Summit too will be convened at a later date.”
— Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
New dates will be announced after consultations with participating countries and stakeholders.
The summit was set to be a landmark event for global big cat diplomacy. Guided by the theme Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem, it was expected to bring together over 400 conservationists, policymakers, scientists, multilateral agencies, and community representatives from around the world.
Its centrepiece would have been the adoption of the Delhi Declaration — the first-ever global declaration on big cat conservation, aimed at articulating shared priorities, strengthening transboundary cooperation, and advancing a landscape-based approach to big cat habitat protection.
The IBCA, headquartered in New Delhi, is an intergovernmental organisation established for the conservation of seven big cats: the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. India launched the alliance in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. The framework agreement bringing IBCA into full legal existence as a treaty-based international organisation came into force in January 2026, with 27 countries having consented to join.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav had launched the IBCA Summit’s website and logo as recently as May 6.
“India remains firmly committed to working with all partners to advance the shared objectives of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development,” the ministry added.
Sources: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change | IANS via ProKerala | The News Mill
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