India has gifted five peacocks to the United Nations Office at Geneva, with the birds arriving at Ariana Park. The symbolic gesture highlights India’s rich natural heritage, biodiversity conservation, longstanding UN partnership and commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation.
The United Nations Office at Geneva has welcomed five peacocks gifted by India, marking a symbolic gesture that highlights the country’s rich natural heritage, biodiversity and longstanding partnership with the United Nations. The birds arrived at Ariana Park, the historic home of the UN Office at Geneva, where peacocks have been part of the landscape for more than a century.
The UN Geneva office on Sunday shared photographs of the five peacocks on X and selected their arrival as its “Photo of the Week.” The UN described the gesture as a continuation of a century-old tradition associated with the presence of peacocks at Ariana Park.
“Photo Of The Week: India’s Five peacocks arrived the Ariana Park at UN Geneva, thanks to the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva,” the UN Geneva office posted, describing the gift as a beautiful gesture connected with India’s national bird.
The five peacocks were formally presented to the United Nations Office at Geneva on August 7 by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi. During a special ceremony, Bagchi handed over the birds to UNOG Director-General Tatiana Valovaya.
The group comprises four blue peacocks and one white peacock, reflecting the blue and white colours commonly associated with the United Nations. Valovaya welcomed the new arrivals and expressed appreciation to the Indian government for the gesture.
“We are very happy to welcome five new peacocks, four blue, one white, in typical United Nations colours: blue and white,” Valovaya said. She added that a temporary enclosure had been prepared for the birds, where they would remain for around three months before being allowed to move freely around Ariana Park.
The Permanent Mission of India in Geneva also acknowledged the support provided by Bio Parc Geneva in sourcing the peacocks and caring for them during their initial period. The birds will remain in enclosed habitats until they reach adulthood and are ready to live freely within the park.
India described the donation as a vibrant symbol of its commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation. The Permanent Mission said the presentation of the Indian peacocks adds to the biodiversity of the UN premises while reflecting India’s natural heritage and cultural ethos.
The Indian peacock, scientifically known as Pavo cristatus, is the national bird of India and is widely associated with grace, beauty and resilience. India said the symbolic gift also represents its commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship.
The arrival of the peacocks also strengthens a tradition that dates back decades. Peacocks have been an integral part of Ariana Park for more than 100 years, making their presence a distinctive feature of the UN Geneva campus.
This is not the first time India has gifted peacocks to the UN Office at Geneva. In 1981, India presented a pair of peacocks to UNOG, establishing a connection that has now been renewed through the arrival of the five new birds.
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The latest donation therefore combines cultural symbolism, environmental awareness and diplomacy. By placing India’s national bird within Ariana Park, the gesture highlights the country’s rich natural heritage while reaffirming its enduring partnership with the United Nations.
The Indian mission said the initiative reflects India’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation. The five peacocks are expected to become a visible representation of India’s biodiversity and its long-standing relationship with the UN community in Geneva.
