# India gifts five peacocks to UN Geneva, reviving tradition 2026-08-10T06:38:49+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet India has donated five peacocks, including a rare white-feathered male, to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), reviving a tradition last observed in 1981. India's Permanent Representative Arindam Bagchi formally handed over the birds to UNOG Director-General Tatiana Valovaya during a ceremony on Friday. The peacocks were chosen to symbolise India's biodiversity and commitment to environmental stewardship, and their blue and white colours mirror the UN's own. The birds will initially be kept in an enclosed habitat for about three months before being allowed to roam freely in Geneva's 46-hectare Ariana Park, which has hosted peacocks for over a century. The first pair was sent to the UN by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981. The donation comes as India gears up to host a major UN conference on biological diversity later this year. ## Coverage - telanganatoday.com Tags: biodiversity, diplomacy, Geneva, India, peacocks, United Nations Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/india-gifts-five-peacocks-to-un-geneva-reviving-tradition/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/india-gifts-five-peacocks-to-un-geneva-reviving-tradition/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.