The International Big Cat Summit was held at the Nagarahole tiger reserve on February 12 and 13 as part of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Course.

The programme was jointly organised by the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

A total of 38 foreign officials and researchers from 20 countries, including Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Romania and Russia, participated in the two-day programme at Nagarahole, aimed at strengthening international cooperation in wildlife conservation.

On the first day, experts delivered sessions on sustainable eco-tourism, outreach initiatives and landscape approaches for wildlife conservation. Delegates later undertook field visits to the Kabini backwaters and the Balle elephant camp, according to the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve Director.

The second day began with a field visit, followed by technical sessions at Jungle Lodges & Resorts, Karapur. Topics included wildlife capture operations, financing conservation efforts and elephant conservation challenges in India. Delegates also made presentations on wildlife resources, management practices and human-wildlife conflict issues in their respective countries, a press release said here.

The Executive Course, which commenced at Bandipur Tiger Reserve on February 8, concluded with a valedictory ceremony at Nagarahole, where certificates were distributed to the delegates by senior officials of NTCA and the Forest Department.

The valedictory programme was chaired by Nitin Pramod, Director (DPA-II), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Mr Ramesh Kumar Pandey, Additional Director General (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India; Jerome Minge, Director, IBCA; Sanjayan Kumar, Member Secretary, NTCA; Subhash Malkhede, Course Director; Kumar Pushkar, PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Karnataka Forest Department; Harini Venugopal, AIGF, NTCA; Ramesh Kumar P, CCF and Nodal Officer of the Course; Prabhakaran, CF and Field Director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve; and Seema P.A., Deputy Conservator of Forests and Director, Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Hunsur; and other officers and staff of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve were present at the programme.