International Big Cat Alliance

What International Big Cat Alliance does

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization headquartered in New Delhi, India, dedicated to the conservation of seven big cat species (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, jaguar, puma, and cheetah). Launched in April 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and operationalized when its Framework Agreement entered into force on 23 January 2025, IBCA brings together 26 member nations, 3 observer countries, and a consortium of conservation partners including IUCN, WWF, FAO, UNDP, UNWTO, the World Customs Organization, the Global Tiger Forum, and the Amur Tiger Center, with a target universe of 95 range and non-range countries.

IBCA's programmatic portfolio includes the ITEC Executive Course for wildlife practitioners, the PRIME-CAT veterinary training program delivered with GZRRCS, the State of Technology Report series co-produced with the Wildlife Institute of India, the Herding Big Cats youth storytelling initiative, the bimonthly IBCA Magazine, and the CatByte data platform for illegal wildlife trade intelligence. Technology assets span camera trapping, drones, GIS mapping, AI-enabled surveillance, and integrations with SMART Partnership and EarthRanger for field patrol and incident management. Knowledge products are positioned as advisory rather than commercially licensed.

IBCA operates a free-membership model with no mandatory fees; member countries join by signing the Framework Agreement and depositing instruments of ratification, and may contribute voluntarily. Core funding is a Rs.150 crore (~USD 18M) five-year grant from the Government of India (FY2023-24 to FY2027-28), augmented by voluntary member contributions, bilateral/multilateral support, and emerging corporate engagement through MoUs with CII and PwC India. Distribution is exclusively diplomatic — bilateral meetings, the Assembly, ITEC cohorts, and summits — with no traditional commercial sales motion.

Name

International Big Cat Alliance

Legal name

International Big Cat Alliance

Website

https://ibca.world

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Big Cat Alliance is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization headquartered in New Delhi that convenes 26 member nations and conservation partners to protect seven big cat species through capacity-building programs, technology platforms, and diplomatic cooperation, funded primarily by a five-year Government of India grant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The Government of the Republic of India has approved Rs.150 crore (USD 18 Million) to IBCA for five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28. The IBCA augments its corpus by taking financial support from public sector, private sector, bilateral and multilateral organisations, non-profit organisations and national and international financial institutions.
2. Voluntary Member Contributions: Member countries may contribute voluntarily to support IBCA initiatives. There is no mandatory membership fee, but countries can provide financial support if they desire.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The International Big Cat Alliance is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization that delivers multilateral conservation programming for seven big cat species (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, jaguar, puma, cheetah). Its offerings include the ITEC Executive Course for wildlife practitioners, the PRIME-CAT veterinary health management programme, the Herding Big Cats youth storytelling initiative, the State of Technology Report knowledge series, and the bimonthly IBCA Magazine, supported by the CatByte intelligence platform for monitoring illegal wildlife trade.

Product overview

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization dedicated to the conservation of seven big cat species (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, jaguar, puma, and cheetah). Rather than a unified software product, IBCA operates as a coalition platform offering programs including the ITEC Executive Course for wildlife practitioners, PRIME-CAT veterinary training, the Herding Big Cats storytelling initiative, and the State of Technology Report publication. The organization also publishes the IBCA Magazine and informational brochures. These offerings work together to facilitate international cooperation, knowledge exchange, capacity building, and resource mobilization among member countries for big cat conservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ITEC Executive Course on Capacity Building for Wildlife and Conservation Practitioners A capacity-building programme for wildlife and conservation practitioners from member and partner countries, delivered by IBCA in partnership with India's Ministry of External Affairs through field sessions in Indian tiger reserves covering wildlife management, habitat protection, anti-poaching, and conservation technology.
• PRIME-CAT (Programme for Integrated Management & Excellence in Big Cat Health) A one-week international veterinary training and capacity-building programme on big cat health management, jointly conducted by IBCA and Greens Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre Society (GZRRCS) for veterinary professionals from member and partner countries.
• State of Technology Report (Conservation Technology Series) A knowledge product in the Conservation Technology series developed by IBCA in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, providing comprehensive vision documents on modern conservation technologies to support big cat conservation globally.
• Herding Big Cats A global storytelling project that harnesses personal stories and adventures to inspire global youth to contribute to big cat and habitat conservation.
• IBCA Magazine A bimonthly magazine publication covering big cat conservation news, research, best practices, and IBCA activities, published digitally with editions from 2024 onwards.
• IBCA Informational Brochures (Unleashing The Roar, Stride With Pride) Informational brochures detailing IBCA's mission, objectives, and conservation initiatives, made available for download from the publications page to support outreach to member countries, partners, and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• India accounts for roughly 70% of world's tiger population and 35% of global leopards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026MoU signed to bring together conservation and industry for shared purpose, catalyzing innovation, raising awareness, building capacity, mobilizing resources, and promoting sustainable practices.
• Indian Regional Association of Landscape Ecology (IRALE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026MoU signed at IRALE 2026 Conference at Periyar Tiger Reserve to strengthen collaboration in wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable landscape management.
• India FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026IBCA and India Foundation signed MoU to enhance understanding and implementation of sustainable development practices in context of big cat conservation and surrounding populations.
• South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026IBCA and SAWEN signed MoU to reinforce collaboration to combat wildlife crime and strengthen conservation across South Asia.
• Himachal Pradesh Forest DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026MoU signed for establishment of Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve in Himachal Pradesh to strengthen Snow Leopard conservation through landscape-based approach.
• Greens Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre Society (GZRRCS/Vantara)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2025MoU signed to strengthen institutional cooperation for Big Cat conservation through knowledge exchange, capacity-building programmes, awareness generation, and habitat restoration initiatives.
• PwC IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025MoU signed to strengthen global efforts for conservation of big cats through enhanced conservation finance, community stewardship, awareness building, and international cooperation.
• GoInsightcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 December 2025Joint side event at CITES CoP20 on collaborative approaches to big cat conservation, utilizing CatByte platform for data-driven insights.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUCN is a Partner Organisation of IBCA, participating in the Assembly without voting rights. IUCN provides scientific expertise and global conservation network access to support IBCA's mission.
• International Snow Leopard TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Kyrgyzstan, the trust collaborates with IBCA on snow leopard conservation efforts across range countries.
• Global Tiger ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in India, the forum works with IBCA on tiger conservation initiatives and shares expertise on tiger recovery programs.
• Amur Tiger CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Russia, the center collaborates with IBCA on Amur tiger conservation in the Russian Far East.
• WWF InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF International partners with IBCA on various big cat conservation initiatives, providing global network and technical expertise.
• World Customs OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Belgium, WCO works with IBCA to combat illegal wildlife trade and strengthen enforcement at borders.
• Cheetah Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Namibia, CCF collaborates with IBCA on global cheetah conservation efforts and knowledge sharing.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO is a strategic partner of IBCA, providing expertise on ecosystem management and wildlife conservation in agricultural landscapes.
• UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNWTO collaborates with IBCA on sustainable eco-tourism initiatives related to big cat habitats.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP is a strategic partner providing development expertise and supporting conservation financing initiatives.
• Mobius FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobius Foundation supports IBCA initiatives and participates in conservation events and webinars.
• Centre for Sustainable Green EconomyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe centre collaborates on sustainable economy initiatives linked to big cat conservation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Wetlands International: IGO-style conservation organization focused on wetland ecosystems, some of which overlap with big cat habitats. Comparable as a species/ecosystem-focused conservation body working through national governments and international partnerships, though with a different ecological mandate.

Broad incumbents

• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species): UN treaty that regulates international trade in big cats and other endangered species. IBCA's CatByte platform and WCO partnership push into adjacent territory. CITES is the established regulatory framework; IBCA's CatByte could either supplement or be perceived as overlapping CITES trade database functions.
• WWF International: One of the world's largest conservation NGOs with extensive big cat programs (tiger, snow leopard, jaguar). IBCA partners with WWF but competes for donor attention and field-program relevance. WWF's massive country-office footprint and brand recognition make it the most credible alternative for conservation funding.
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme): UN system's designated entity for environmental coordination, including biodiversity and species conservation. IBCA cooperates with UNEP-adjacent bodies (FAO, UNDP) and aligns with Global Biodiversity Framework goals. UNEP is the broadest institutional peer with comparable convening authority.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global authority on species conservation status and Red List assessments. IBCA and IUCN formally partner, and IUCN already covers big cat species via its Cat Specialist Group. Comparable as the global scientific authority on species status and conservation policy, though IBCA is specifically treaty-based and species-scoped to big cats.

Peers

• Cheetah Conservation Fund: Namibia-based NGO that is the global leader in cheetah conservation and an IBCA partner. CCF brings species-specific expertise and field programs that IBCA can convene but does not directly operate. Most directly comparable for cheetah-specific work given CCF's decades of expertise.

Direct peers

• International Snow Leopard Trust: Kyrgyzstan-based NGO and IBCA partner organization focused on snow leopard range countries. Comparable species-specific mandate, similar range-country engagement model, and similar reliance on partnerships with IGOs and governments.
• Global Tiger Forum: India-based intergovernmental body specifically focused on tiger conservation among 13 tiger range countries. Already an IBCA partner organization. Most direct functional overlap—same species focus, similar IGO-style convening, similar member states—making GTF both a partner and the most obvious competitor for tiger-specific mandate and funding.
• Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP): Intergovernmental program coordinating snow leopard conservation across 12 range countries. IBCA staff participate in GSLEP Steering Committee meetings. Highly comparable as a species-specific, range-country-driven conservation platform that overlaps directly with IBCA's snow leopard work.
• TRAFFIC: Wildlife trade monitoring network jointly operated by WWF and IUCN. Most direct comparator to CatByte in terms of illegal wildlife trade intelligence and enforcement support. TRAFFIC's 30-year data history and global offices make it the dominant player in the niche IBCA is attempting to enter.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IBCA_official
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IBCAofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-big-cat-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibca_official
• Facebookfacebook.com/ibcaofficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Big Cat Alliance