India has gifted five Indian peacocks, including a rare white-feathered male, to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), which brings the country’s national bird back to Ariana Park as part of a decades-old tradition. Read on to learn more about the tradition.
India Sends 5 Peacocks To The UN
At a ceremony held on Friday, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, formally presented the birds to UNOG Director-General Tatiana Valovaya. The act points out India’s rich biodiversity and its longstanding association with the UN. The group includes four blue peafowl and one white-feathered male. Their blue and white plumage also depicts the colours associated with the United Nations.
This is not India’s first peacock gift to UNOG. In 1981, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent a breeding pair from the Delhi Zoo to Geneva. The Indian mission described the peacock as a symbol of “grace, beauty and resilience”, connecting the donation to India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.
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Valovaya welcomed the gesture, while Tobias Blaha, Director of Geneva Bioparc zoo, referred to Ariana Park as an ideal habitat for them.
The History Of This Tradition
The custom of keeping peacocks at Ariana Park in Geneva goes back more than a century and predates both the League of Nations and the United Nations. The story starts with Gustave Revilliod, a Swiss archaeologist, art collector and philanthropist who owned the estate that later became Ariana Park. When he died in 1890, he left the property to the City of Geneva, along with his massive collection and requests that the estate remain open to the public. Peacocks were already part of the estate and continued to be associated with the grounds. Over the years, different peacocks have been introduced to Ariana Park.
The five birds given recently will ideally remain in an enclosed area for around three months while they adjust to their new surroundings. They will later be allowed to roam freely across Ariana Park, where the UN’s European headquarters is located.
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Spread across 46 hectares, Ariana Park is among Geneva’s most prominent green spaces. Its connection with peacocks goes back more than a century, predating both the League of Nations and the United Nations.
Cover Image Courtesy: X/UNGeneva
FAQs
Which peacock is found in India?
The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), also known as the blue peafowl, is found in India.