The Alliance, India’s brainchild, was established in 2024 with the aim of conserving seven big cats

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh on Wednesday joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its new member, taking the total count of member countries of this treaty-based global entity to 27.The Alliance, India’s brainchild, was established in 2024 with the aim of conserving seven big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma — in coordination with other countries. Except for jaguar and puma, India is home to five big cats.Besides the founding member India, the countries that have already formally joined the IBCA as its members include Russia, Cambodia, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Rwanda, Angola, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia, among others.Primary objective of the IBCA, headquartered in New Delhi, is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise to achieve the conservation of big cats at a global level.There are 95 big cat range countries having habitats of one or more big cats. While 27 out of these 95 are member countries, five others are part of the Alliance as observers.Announcing Bangladesh’s move on X, the IBCA said, “This important milestone strengthens international cooperation for the conservation of #BigCats and their habitats, and reinforces our shared commitment to safeguarding these iconic species and the ecosystems they inhabit for future generations.”