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October 8, 2025 9:14 PM IST

Bhupender Yadav | Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025

Bhupender Yadav honours winners of Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday felicitated the winners of the Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025 at a special ceremony held in New Delhi. The event was organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), Aarts Maestro, and the Uttar Pradesh EcoTourism Development Board as part of the pre-summit activities leading up to the Global Summit on Big Cat Conservation in 2026.

“Under the dynamic guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our Nation has not only strengthened its conservation frameworks but also redefined how development and nature can coexist,” Yadav said while addressing the gathering. He also shared the PM Modi’s Wildlife Week 2025 message to wildlife enthusiasts on X earlier in the day.

Highlighting India’s conservation achievements, the Minister noted that the country’s forest and tree cover has increased by 1,445 square kilometres in the last decade, reaching 25.17% of the total geographical area. The Protected Area Network has expanded to 1,022 sites, covering 5.43% of India’s land. He also announced the inclusion of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh into the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, making it India’s 13th site in the network.

Yadav outlined India’s success in protecting big cats, citing a 30% rise in tiger numbers over the past decade, with 58 tiger reserves now covering over 84,000 square kilometres. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Tiger@2047 plan, aimed at securing every potential tiger landscape by India’s centenary of independence. The Minister also highlighted the 32% growth in Asiatic lion numbers since 2020, with their range now spanning 35,000 sq km and the population reaching 891.

Discussing other conservation efforts, Yadav praised the impact of Project Snow Leopard in the Himalayas and the success of Project Cheetah, noting the first cheetah cub born on Indian soil to have reached adulthood—a milestone in the species’ recovery.

He credited institutions like the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India for driving innovation through smart patrols, AI-based monitoring, and what has become the world’s largest camera-trap survey. “This is the New India of Conservation — driven by science, guided by values,” he said.

Yadav also emphasised the role of community participation, citing successful initiatives such as Himal Rakshaks in Ladakh, Cheetah Mitras in Madhya Pradesh, and Vanya Prani Mitras in Gujarat.

Describing the photography competition as a powerful platform to celebrate wildlife and human-nature connection, the Minister noted its special significance as part of the pre-summit events for the 2026 Global Big Cat Conservation Summit. “The summit will mark a milestone moment in the collective global efforts to secure the future of the seven majestic big cat species — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, jaguar, cheetah, and puma,” he said.

The 2025 competition drew over 1,000 entries from across the globe, with 456 photographs shortlisted and eight winners selected by the jury. The winners were felicitated in the presence of ambassadors from Big Cat Range countries, senior government officials, and conservation partners.

Winners of the Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025:

Rajarshi Banerji – 1st Prize

Abhijit Chattopadhyay – 2nd Prize

Narayan Malu – 3rd Prize

Anosh Koppikar – 4th Prize

Prasad Hamine – 5th Prize

Jeetendra Chaware – 6th Prize

Vishwas Patwardhan – 7th Prize

Vinod Sharma – 8th Prize

The ceremony formed an integral part of the Wildlife Week 2025 celebrations, reaffirming India’s commitment to preserving its biodiversity. “Your passion for wildlife and your commitment to portraying the splendour of big cats contribute significantly to the larger mission of global conservation,” Yadav told the winners.

Wildlife Week underscores the idea that protecting biodiversity is not just an environmental imperative but a moral duty to ensure ecological balance and sustainability for future generations.

 

Last updated on: 8th Oct 2025