India Gifts Five Peacocks to UN Office at Geneva

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Key takeaways

India presented five Indian peacocks, including one rare white male peacock, to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).
The Indian Peacock was declared the National Bird of India in 1963 and receives strict protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.
It holds a status of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and naturally ranges across South Asian nations like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan.
A rare genetic condition known as leucism causes white plumage in peacocks without affecting their natural eye color.

India presented five Indian peacocks to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).
This gift included four blue peafowl and one rare white-feathered male peacock.

The Indian Peacock is a large, colorful bird from the pheasant family Phasianidae.
The government declared it the National Bird of India in 1963 due to its rich cultural, ecological, and mythological significance.

These birds live in open lowland forests, thorn scrub, farmlands, grasslands, and riverbanks. They adapt easily and frequently live near human settlements, city parks, and village outskirts.
The species is native to South Asian countries including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan. People have also introduced it to many other parts of the world.

The IUCN Red List categorizes the Indian Peacock under the Least Concern category.
India grants it the highest level of legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.

The species shows clear physical differences between sexes. Males have a bright metallic-blue head, neck, and fan crest, while females are smaller with dull brown feathers that help them stay hidden while nesting.
The male tail is an elongated group of upper-tail feathers. It contains over 200 feathers with colorful eye-spots called ocelli, which the male spreads like a fan to attract mates.
A genetic condition called leucism creates rare white peacocks. Unlike albinos, white peacocks retain normal eye pigmentation.
Peacocks eat seeds, grains, insects, small reptiles, and young snakes such as cobras. They sleep together in large groups on high trees at night to stay safe from predators.
They can live in many different environments. Their habitats range from dry semi-arid plains and wet tropical forests to green spaces in cities.

As the national bird of India, the peacock symbolizes natural beauty, cultural heritage, and ecological balance.
Gifting these birds to international bodies highlights India's dedication to biodiversity protection and environmental diplomacy.