Bhupender Yadav presents Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025 awards; Asiatic lions at 891
On 8 October 2025 in New Delhi, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav presented the Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025 awards, a pre-summit event for the Global Summit on Big Cat Conservation that India will host in 2026.
Summary
On 8 October 2025 in New Delhi, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav presided over the awards ceremony of the Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025, organised by the Environment Ministry with the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), Aarts Maestro and the Uttar Pradesh EcoTourism Development Board as a pre-summit event to the Global Summit on Big Cat Conservation that India will host in 2026, during Wildlife Week 2025. The competition drew entries from over 1,000 participants; 456 were shortlisted for the final jury. Yadav said the summit concerns seven big cats â tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, jaguar, cheetah and puma. He said India has 58 Tiger Reserves covering over 84,000 sq km, the tiger population rose 30% in a decade, and Asiatic lions now number 891 (up 32% since 2020) across 35,000 sq km. The Protected Area Network has grown to 1,022 areas covering 5.43% of the country, and the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh joined UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Key facts
- Event
- Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025 awards â New Delhi, 8 Oct 2025
- Partners
- MoEFCC, IBCA, Aarts Maestro, UP EcoTourism Development Board
- Summit
- Global Summit on Big Cat Conservation â India, 2026; seven big cats
- Tigers
- 58 Tiger Reserves, 84,000+ sq km; +30% in a decade
- Lions
- 891 Asiatic lions (+32% since 2020), 35,000 sq km
- Protected areas
- 1,022, covering 5.43% of India
Practice MCQs 2 questions
According to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav (October 2025), the number of Asiatic lions has risen by 32% since 2020 to reach:
Show answer
Correct answer: D â 891
PIB: Asiatic lions are now thriving across 35,000 sq km, with their numbers rising by 32% since 2020 to reach 891.
Consider the following statements: 1. The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh has been added to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. 2. The Global Summit on Big Cat Conservation planned for 2026 concerns six big cat species. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A â 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the minister noted the addition of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves; the summit concerns seven big cat species â tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, jaguar, cheetah and puma.