Kathmandu: Nepal has formally joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), a global India-led initiative dedicated to the conservation of seven species of big cats. The IBCA made the announcement on Saturday following Nepal’s signing of the Framework Agreement.
With its rich biodiversity that includes the snow leopard, tiger, and common leopard, Nepal’s participation is seen as a critical boost to global collaboration in protecting vulnerable big cat populations. The IBCA lauded Nepal’s move, describing it as “a significant step towards shared ecological security.”
The Himalayan nation has already demonstrated remarkable success in wildlife conservation. Through consistent policy measures, community engagement, and international cooperation, Nepal nearly tripled its tiger population in just over a decade, from 121 in 2009 to 355 in 2022, according to the latest census.
🌍🤝 #Nepal has formally joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), by signing the Framework Agreement!
With Snow Leopard, Tiger & Common Leopard in its landscapes, Nepal’s joining the IBCA will strengthen global collaboration for #bigcat conservation. #IBCA… pic.twitter.com/aZjRWP8Lxz
— International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) (@IBCA_official) August 23, 2025
The IBCA was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, in Mysuru, Karnataka, to unite countries to safeguard the world’s most iconic predators: the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. The alliance now includes over 90 member nations, encompassing both range countries and non-range countries interested in big cat conservation.
India, which has decades of experience in tiger conservation through its flagship Project Tiger and has pioneered efforts for species like the Asiatic lion and snow leopard, plays a central role in guiding conservation strategies within the IBCA framework.
The IBCA provides a platform for participating countries to share best practices, mobilise resources, and develop collaborative solutions for the protection of big cats, many of which face severe threats from habitat loss, poaching, and climate change.
