India Gifts Five Peacocks to United Nations, Reviving a 1981 Tradition

India has donated five young Indian peacocks to the United Nations Office at Geneva, reviving a diplomatic tradition that began more than four decades ago. The group includes four blue peafowl and one rare white-feathered male, reflecting the blue and white colours associated with the United Nations.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, formally presented the birds to UNOG Director-General Tatiana Valovaya during a special ceremony held on Friday. The Indian mission said the gesture showcased the country’s natural heritage while reaffirming its commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation and environmental stewardship.

The donation marks the second time India has presented peacocks to the UN’s Geneva office. In 1981, then prime minister Indira Gandhi sent a breeding pair from the Delhi Zoo. The Indian mission described the peacock as a symbol of grace, beauty and resilience and said the bird represented India’s enduring commitment to biodiversity conservation.

Also Read: Rajasthan Farmer's Buried Rs 5 Lakh Destroyed by Termites After A Year

Valovaya expressed appreciation to the Indian government for the donation. The five birds will be cared for jointly by UN personnel and specialists from Geneva Bioparc. Tobias Blaha, the zoo’s director, described Ariana Park as an ideal habitat for the peacocks because of its extensive green space and established association with the species.

The peacocks will initially remain in an enclosed habitat for approximately three months to help them adjust to their new surroundings. They will later be allowed to move freely through Ariana Park, the 46-hectare estate surrounding the United Nations’ European headquarters and one of Geneva’s largest and most prestigious parks.

Peacocks have lived in Ariana Park for more than a century, predating both the League of Nations and the United Nations. The estate was bequeathed to Geneva in 1890 by Swiss archaeologist and art collector Gustave Revilliod, while many birds currently seen by visitors were donated by a Japanese zoo in 1997. India said its latest contribution would add to the biodiversity of the historic UN premises.

Also Read: Typhoon Dolphin's Pacific Impact Linked to Weakening Indian Monsoon