Julius Cobbett

India is rewriting the rules of global conservation. While the world struggles with biodiversity loss, India has achieved the impossible: simultaneous population growth across five distinct species of Big Cats. Here is the story of India’s roaring comeback. CHEETAHS: Declared extinct in 1952, the Cheetah returned under Project Cheetah, a historic intercontinental translocation. Starting with 8, brought from Namibia in 2022, successful births on Indian soil have seen a rise to 57 by 2026. This restores a missing link in our grassland ecosystem. TIGERS: The Great Indian Miracle (160.95% Growth) In 2006, India’s Tiger population hit a record low of 1,411. Through the National Tiger Conservation Authority and strict anti-poaching measures, we turned the tide. By 2022, that number soared to 3,682, meaning India now houses 70% of the global wild tiger population. Using cutting-edge tech like M-STrIPES and voluntary village relocations, India proved that economic development and apex predator conservation can coexist. ASIATIC LIONS: The Pride of Gujarat (From 327 to 891) Restricted to the Gir Forests, Asiatic Lions faced a dangerous bottleneck with just 327 individuals in 2000. However, through the "Maldhari" community co-existence model and world-class veterinary care, we witnessed a steady ascent. The population rose to 674 in 2020 and is estimated to reach 891 in 2025. We have effectively pulled the King of the Jungle back from the edge of extinction. LEOPARDS: The Silent Expansion (Dominating at 13,874) Leopard's growth has exploded from 7,910 in 2014 to a massive 13,874 in 2022. By robustly protecting Tiger Reserves, we created an "umbrella effect" that secured the leopard's future across 70% of sampled habitats. India’s strategy focuses on conflict mitigation and rapid response teams, allowing these adaptable predators to thrive without major ecological friction. SNOW LEOPARDS: Guardians of the Third Pole (718 Strong) In 2024, the first-ever scientific assessment (SPAI) confirmed a population of 718 Snow Leopards. This is a monumental achievement in the Himalayas. "Project Snow Leopard" succeeded by prioritising community-based conservation, working with herders to predator-proof corrals and preventing retaliatory killings. This secures the ecology of the "Third Pole," the source of India's major rivers. India is now the only country to host Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, and Cheetahs in the wild. This data proves that when India decides to protect, nature thrives.

So many of our problems could be fixed by properly funding public education.

It was an honor to welcome so many incredible leaders and advocates to Barcelona for the inaugural Global Progressive Summit — a first-of-its-kind gathering that brought together thousands from over 100 countries and organizations. For the first time, partners including Progressive Alliance, Global Progress, and the Party of European Socialists came together under one roof, alongside a broad coalition of movements and leaders committed to advancing a more just and democratic future.

Yes

Hundreds of millions of people throughout the world are immersed in extreme poverty. Yet, disproportionate wealth remains in the hands of a few. It is an unjust scenario, in the face of which we cannot fail to question ourselves and commit to change things. There is no lack of resources at the root of disparities, but the need to address solvable problems related to a more equitable distribution of wealth, to be achieved with moral sense and honesty.

Hundreds of millions of people throughout the world are immersed in extreme poverty. Yet, disproportionate wealth remains in the hands of a few. It is an unjust scenario, in the face of which we cannot fail to question ourselves and commit to change things. There is no lack of resources at the root of disparities, but the need to address solvable problems related to a more equitable distribution of wealth, to be achieved with moral sense and honesty.

Jeff Bezos has $222 billion. If he paid my wealth tax this year, we could fund insulin in America for everyone who needs it plus free school lunch for every kid in Texas—and have plenty of money left over. And Bezos would still have $215 billion dollars to spare.