Big Cat Summit Concludes at Nagarahole: Strengthening Global Wildlife Conservation Cooperation
Analysis:
- The International Big Cat Summit was conducted at the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, on 12–13 February 2026 under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Course, highlighting India's leadership in global wildlife conservation efforts.
- The summit was a collaborative initiative by International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Government of Karnataka, and Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, reflecting multi-stakeholder engagement.
- 38 foreign officials and researchers from 20 countries, including Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Romania, and Russia, participated, underscoring the international scope and cooperative framework for wildlife management.
- Day 1 focused on sustainable eco-tourism, outreach initiatives, and landscape-level conservation approaches, followed by field visits to Kabini backwaters and Balle elephant camp, providing practical exposure to conservation strategies.
- Day 2 included technical sessions at Jungle Lodges & Resorts, Karapur, covering wildlife capture operations, financing conservation efforts, elephant conservation challenges, and country-wise presentations on wildlife management and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
- The Executive Course, which began at Bandipur Tiger Reserve on 8 February, concluded with a valedictory ceremony at Nagarahole, where certificates were awarded by senior NTCA and Karnataka Forest Department officials.
- Key officials present included Nitin Pramod (MEA), Ramesh Kumar Pandey (MoEFCC), Jerome Minge (IBCA), Sanjayan Kumar (NTCA), Kumar Pushkar (PCCF, Karnataka), and other reserve directors and officers, highlighting inter-institutional coordination.
- The summit emphasized international cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and capacity building in big cat conservation, critical for protecting endangered species amid increasing human-wildlife conflict.
Static/Reference Details:
- Venue: Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka
- Dates: 12–13 February 2026
- Organisers: IBCA, NTCA, Karnataka Government, Ministry of External Affairs
- Participating Countries: 20 (including Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Romania, Russia)
- Key Locations Visited: Kabini backwaters, Balle elephant camp, Jungle Lodges & Resorts Karapur
- Key Officials: Nitin Pramod, Ramesh Kumar Pandey, Jerome Minge, Sanjayan Kumar, Subhash Malkhede, Kumar Pushkar, Harini Venugopal, Ramesh Kumar P, Prabhakaran, Seema P.A.
Updated - 13 February 2026; 08:26 PM | The Hindu Source