Indian Peafowl & “Peacock Diplomacy”

India donated five Indian male peafowls to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), highlighting India’s biodiversity heritage, cultural identity and commitment to multilateralism. The group consists of four blue peafowls and one white-feathered male, symbolically representing the blue and white colours of the UN.

This was the second such diplomatic gift from India. In 1981, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had sent a breeding pair of peafowls from Delhi Zoo to Geneva.

Ariana Park & Symbolism

The peafowls will be housed in Ariana Park, a 46-hectare park surrounding UN Geneva. The park has hosted peacocks for over a century and was originally owned by Swiss art collector Gustave Revilliod, who bequeathed it to Geneva in 1890.

The gesture is seen as “Peacock Diplomacy”, comparable to China’s “Panda Diplomacy”. It uses India’s national bird as an instrument of soft power, strengthening India’s image as a peaceful and cooperative participant in the UN system.

Indian Peafowl: Key Facts

The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) belongs to the Phasianidae family. The male is called a peacock, while the female is called a peahen. It is India’s National Bird and symbolises grace, beauty and resilience.

Habitat & Ecology

The species is native to the Indian subcontinent and is highly adaptable. It occurs in dry deciduous forests, scrublands, semi-desert regions, agricultural landscapes and human-dominated areas. It is mainly ground-dwelling during the day and roosts in trees at night.

It is omnivorous, feeding on seeds, fruits, insects, small mammals, reptiles and small snakes. By consuming insects and other pests, it contributes to natural pest control.

Sexual Dimorphism

Indian Peafowl exhibit prominent sexual dimorphism. Males possess metallic blue plumage and a long train with colourful eyespots (ocelli) used during courtship, while females have relatively muted brown plumage, providing camouflage during ground nesting.

Conservation Status

Under the information provided:

• IUCN: Least Concern (LC)

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

• CITES: Appendix III