As many as 16 countries, including Brazil, Nepal, Bangladesh and, Malaysia, have formally joined the newly formed big cat alliance led by India, Environment Ministry officials said on Friday.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the establishment of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with headquarters in India with a one-time budgetary support of Rs 150 crore for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28, an official statement said.
The official said that the last census was conducted in 2016 in which the total number of leopards was found to be 43 and is now expected to have increased after nearly eight years.
In the mega international event held at Mysuru, Karnataka, to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) for the conservation of seven big cats namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma harb
Highlighting the growing tiger population in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India's tradition and culture, as well as the biodiversity in the country, were among the major reasons for this achievement.