India Postpones First Big Cat Alliance Summit Amid Africa Health Concerns

India has postponed the first-ever International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit , which was scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 1 and 2, following the deferment of the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) amid growing health concerns linked to the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa.

The high-profile conservation summit was planned alongside the India-Africa Forum Summit because several African nations are home to major big cat species and are considered crucial partners in global efforts related to wildlife conservation , biodiversity protection and ecological sustainability . Officials said the decision was taken after consultations between the Government of India, the African Union Chairperson and the African Union Commission to ensure wider participation from all member countries, particularly African nations.

According to official sources, the postponement comes in view of the “evolving public health situation” across sections of Africa. Multiple international reports linked the decision to the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, along with concerns surrounding the spread of mpox infections. The World Health Organization had recently classified the Ebola situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern , raising concerns over international travel and participation by foreign delegations.

Government officials said the IBCA Summit would now be convened at a later date to ensure “broad and active participation” from all big cat range countries. Fresh dates for both the India-Africa Forum Summit and the IBCA Summit will be announced after consultations with participating nations and stakeholders. As of now, no revised schedule has been officially confirmed.

The India-Africa Forum Summit was originally scheduled from May 28 to 31 in New Delhi and was expected to bring together leaders from across Africa to strengthen cooperation in trade, healthcare, development, technology and strategic affairs. The IBCA Summit, planned immediately after the forum, was expected to witness participation from heads of state, wildlife experts and conservation organisations. Reports suggested around 13 world leaders were likely to attend the inaugural summit, where member countries were expected to deliberate on the proposed “Delhi Declaration on Big Cat Conservation.”

India has also reiterated its commitment to supporting African nations in addressing the health crisis while continuing collaboration on conservation and sustainable development goals.

The International Big Cat Alliance was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, during celebrations marking 50 years of Project Tiger in Mysore. The alliance was formally established on March 12, 2024, and focuses on the conservation of seven major big cat species like tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma through international cooperation and knowledge sharing.

At present, the IBCA has 25 signatory countries and five observer nations , while Saudi Arabia is expected to join the alliance soon.