The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has announced five major conservation events across India ahead of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026. The programmes will focus on India’s five big cat species, tiger, Asiatic lion, leopard, snow leopard, and cheetah.

The events will be held in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Maharashtra. According to the ministry, the initiative aims to highlight India’s wildlife conservation efforts, strengthen global cooperation, and increase public awareness about biodiversity protection.

Five States To Host Big Cat Events

The Asiatic Lion conservation event will take place in Gir, Gujarat, while the Cheetah conservation programme will be hosted in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Bhubaneswar, Odisha, will host the Leopard conservation event along with the International Day for Biological Diversity programme.

Gangtok in Sikkim will focus on Snow Leopard conservation in Himalayan ecosystems, while Chandrapur, Maharashtra, will host the Tiger conservation programme.

Focus On Conservation And Community Participation

The ministry said the programmes will showcase major conservation initiatives, including Project Tiger, Project Lion, and Project Cheetah. Officials will also discuss habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, wildlife monitoring technology, and community participation in conservation.

India currently holds more than 70 percent of the world’s wild tiger population and remains the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion.

The International Big Cat Alliance, launched by India, aims to strengthen global cooperation for the protection of seven major big cat species worldwide.