Rajkot: Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday virtually inaugurated the first pre-event of the International Big Cat Alliance Summit 2026, highlighting the state’s success in conserving the Asiatic lion and promoting wildlife-led development.The pre-event on lion conservation was organised at Sasan Gir by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change as part of preparations for the International Big Cat Alliance Summit 2026 scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 1 and 2, 2026.Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav, state forest minister Arjun Modhwadia, and minister of state for forests Pravin Kumar Mali participated in the event.Addressing the gathering virtually from Gandhinagar, Patel said Gujarat’s conservation efforts have fulfilled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Development and Heritage.”“The successful conservation of the Asiatic lion in Gir reflects the integration of ecology with emotion. It has strengthened biodiversity while also boosting the local economy,” Patel said.He noted that the lion population in Gujarat has increased from 284 in 1991 to 891 today due to focused conservation measures and proactive forest management. The habitat range of lions has also expanded from three districts to 11 districts over the last two and a half decades.Patel highlighted the development of Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as a second habitat for Asiatic lions, stating that 24 lions are currently residing in the sanctuary following natural migration and conservation efforts.The chief minister also referred to the Rs 2,000 crore “Project Lion”, which includes breeding centres, isolation facilities, modernisation of treatment centres, radio-collar monitoring, and drone surveillance for lion protection.Yadav said the IBCA Summit would bring together global leaders, wildlife experts, scientists, and stakeholders to discuss conservation strategies for major feline species worldwide.“India has provided a new vision for wildlife conservation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. The summit will strengthen international cooperation and present the Delhi Declaration as a framework for wildlife protection,” Yadav said.He added that seven major big cat species inhabit 55 countries globally, while India is home to five of them — lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, and cheetahs.As part of the lead-up to the summit, thematic pre-events will also be held in different states, including cheetah conservation in Bhopal, leopard conservation in Bhubaneswar, snow leopard conservation in Gangtok, and tiger conservation in Chandrapur.Speaking at the event, Modhwadia said Gujarat is also preparing to create a permanent habitat for tigers and is exploring plans to introduce cheetahs in the state in the future.A brochure showcasing wildlife conservation initiatives in Sasan Gir was also released during the event. Officials from the forest department and the International Big Cat Alliance attended the programme.
