New Delhi, 13 May (H.S.): The central government will organise five theme‑based programmes across the country to promote the conservation of big cats and to advance the objectives of the International Big Cat Alliance. These programmes will showcase efforts, achievements and challenges related to the conservation of the tiger, Asiatic lion, leopard, snow leopard and cheetah.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said on Wednesday that the events will be held in different states ahead of the International Big Cat Alliance Summit‑2026. The programmes will take place in Gir (Gujarat), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Gangtok (Sikkim) and Chandrapur (Maharashtra).

A programme on Asiatic lion conservation will be held in Gir, highlighting Project Lion, scientific monitoring systems, habitat improvement and the role of Maldhari communities. The tiger conservation programme in Chandrapur will feature Project Tiger, protection of wildlife corridors, AI‑driven monitoring systems and efforts to reduce human‑tiger conflict.

In Bhubaneswar, a leopard conservation event will be combined with International Day for Biodiversity activities, focusing on mitigating human‑wildlife conflict, strengthening rescue mechanisms and promoting coexistence. The snow leopard conservation programme in Gangtok will emphasise protection of the Himalayan ecosystem, the challenges posed by climate change and the participation of local communities.

A cheetah conservation programme will be organised in Bhopal, covering rehabilitation of cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa, restoration of grassland ecosystems and scientific monitoring systems.

According to the ministry, the International Big Cat Alliance is a global platform initiated by India to strengthen international cooperation for the conservation of the world’s seven major big‑cat species.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar