India donates five peacocks to UN office in Geneva

India has presented five peacocks, including a rare white-feathered specimen, to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). The gift, part of a decades-old tradition, was officially handed over during a ceremony on Friday (August 7, 2026). India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, presented the birds to UNOG Director-General Tatiana Valovaya, underscoring the nation's rich natural heritage and dedication to multilateralism.

The five young peacocks consist of four blue peafowl and one white-feathered male, embodying the blue and white colors linked to the United Nations. This donation is the second such gesture from India; in 1981, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent a breeding pair from Delhi Zoo. India's mission highlighted that the Indian Peacock, symbolizing grace, beauty, and resilience, underscores the country's commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship.

Tatiana Valovaya expressed gratitude to the Indian Government for the gift, stating that it provides a "dream habitat" for the birds. Tobias Blaha, Director of Geneva Bioparc zoo, which will manage the animals' care alongside UN staff, echoed this sentiment. The peacocks will spend about three months in an enclosed habitat before being released into Ariana Park.

Ariana Park, spanning 46 hectares and home to the UN's European headquarters, has been a cherished location in Geneva for over a century. Initially given to the League of Nations and later to the United Nations, the park has been home to peacocks for more than a century, with the custom beginning before the League of Nations and the UN's formation.

The tradition initially began with a donation from a Japanese zoo in 1997. India's latest gift enhances the biodiversity of the UN premises, reflecting the nation's natural heritage and cultural values.