National Animal

Category:Articles with short descriptionCategory:Short description is different from Wikidata Category:Use dmy dates from July 2022

National animals are important symbols that represent a country's cultural identity, heritage, and natural environment. National animals are typically chosen for qualities, such as strength, courage, or resilience, and they reflect the values or historical, mythological and cultural significance of a nation.[1][2][3] Recognition of a national animal is typically formalized through legislation or an official document by which the community or collectivity operates.[4]

The use of national animals goes back to ancient totemism. According to Émile Durkheim, totemism involves the veneration of a totemic animal as sacred, which also serves to organize social structures within the clan. Members of the clan are believed to embody the attributes of their totemic animal. Animals are typically chosen over plants or rocks because of the natural relationship between humans and animals, especially in economic life. Some of these dynamics persist in the concept of national animals.[3]

National animals can be determined through both bottom-up and top-down approaches, that is, can be created, imported, or inherited. The characteristics of the national animal are altered to portray the self-perception of the nation. They symbolize and uphold the ideal shared values of the country's population.[3] The country's other national symbols, such as the coat of arms and currency, usually bear the national animal.[2]

National animals

Country Name of animal Scientific name[a] Picture Ref.
 AlgeriaFennec fox (national animal)Vulpes zerda
[5]
 Antigua and BarbudaEuropean fallow deer (national animal)Dama dama
 [6]
Frigate (national bird)Fregata magnificens
[6]
Hawksbill turtle (national sea creature)Eretmochelys imbricata
[6]
 Argentina Rufous hornero (national bird) Furnarius rufus
[7]
 Azerbaijan Karabakh horse (national horse) Equus caballus
[8]
 BahamasBlue marlin (national fish)Makaira nigricans
[9]
Flamingo (national bird)Phoenicopterus ruber
[9]
 BangladeshBengal tiger (national animal)Panthera tigris tigris
[10]
Magpie robin (national bird)Copsychus saularis
Ilish (national fish)Tenualosa ilisha
 BelizeBaird's tapir (national animal)Tapirus bairdii
[11]
Keel-billed toucan (national bird)Ramphastos sulfuratus
[12]
 BotswanaPlains zebra (national animal)Equus quagga
[13]
 BrazilRufous-bellied thrush (national bird)Turdus rufiventris
[14]
 CambodiaKouprey (national mammal)Bos sauveli
[15]
Giant ibis (national bird)Pseudibis gigantea
[15]
Northern river terrapin (national reptile)Batagur baska
[15]
Giant barb (national fish)Catlocarpio siamensis
[15]
 CanadaNorth American beaver (national animal)Castor canadensis
[16][17]
Canadian horse (national horse)Equus ferus caballus
[16][18]
 ColombiaAndean condor (national bird)Vultur gryphus
[19]
 Costa RicaYigüirro (national bird)Turdus grayi
[20]
White-tailed deer (national animal)Odocoileus virginianus
[20]
West Indian manatee (national aquatic animal)Trichechus manatus
[20]
Two-toed sloth (national animal)Choloepus hoffmanni
[21]
Three-toed sloth (national animal)Bradypus variegatus
[21]
 CubaCuban trogon (national bird)Priotelus temnurus
[22]
 DenmarkRed squirrel (national mammal)Sciurus vulgaris
[23]
Mute swan (national bird)Cygnus olor
[23]
Small tortoiseshell (national butterfly)Aglais urticae
[23]
 DominicaSisserou parrot (national bird)Amazona imperalis
[24]
 El SalvadorTurquoise-browed motmot (national bird)Eumomota superciliosa
[25]
EstoniaWolf (national animal)Canis lupus
Loup_gris_(Canis_lupus_)
Loup_gris_(Canis_lupus_)
[26]
Barn swallow (national bird)Hirundo rustica
Barn_swallow_in_Montezuma_(150)
Barn_swallow_in_Montezuma_(150)
[26]
Baltic herring (national fish)Clupea harengus membras
Silakka
Silakka
[26]
Swallowtail (national butterfly)Papilio machaon
Papilio_machaon_Mitterbach_01
Papilio_machaon_Mitterbach_01
[26]
 FinlandBrown bear (national animal)Ursus arctos
[27]
Whooper swan (national bird)Cygnus cygnus
[27]
European perch (national fish)Perca fluviatilis
[27]
Seven-spot ladybird (national insect)Coccinella septempunctata
 [27]
 GrenadaGrenada dove (national bird)Leptotila wellsi
[28]
 GuatemalaResplendent quetzal (national bird)Pharomachrus mocinno
[29]
 HondurasWhite-tailed deer (national animal)Odocoileus virginianus
[30]
Scarlet macaw (national bird)Ara macao
[31]
 IndiaBengal tiger (national animal)Panthera tigris tigris
[32]
Indian peafowl (national bird)Pavo cristatus
[33]
Ganges river dolphin (national aquatic animal)Platanista gangetica
[34]
Indian elephant (national heritage animal)Elephas maximus indicus
[35]
 IndonesiaKomodo dragon (national animal)Varanus komodoensis
[36]
Javan hawk-eagle (national bird)Nisaetus bartelsi
[36]
Asian arowana (national fish)Scleropages formosus
[36]
 JamaicaRed-billed streamertail (national bird)Trochilus polytmus
[37]
 LatviaWhite wagtail (national bird)Motacilla alba
[31]
Two-spotted ladybird (national insect)Adalia bipunctata
[31]
 LebanonStriped hyena (national animal)Hyaena hyaena
[38]
 LithuaniaWhite stork (national bird)Ciconia ciconia
[39]
 Malaysia Malayan tiger (national animal) Panthera tigris
[40]
 MongoliaSaker falcon (national bird)Falco cherrug
[41][42]
Gobi bear (national animal) Ursus arctos gobiensis
[43]
  Nepal Cow (national animal) Bos indicus
[44]
Himalayan monal (national bird) Lophophorus impejanus
 NicaraguaTurquoise-browed motmot (national bird)Eumomota superciliosa
[45]
 North KoreaPungsan dog (national dog)Canis familiaris
[46]
Korean magpie (national bird)Pica serica
[47]
 PakistanMarkhor (national animal)Capra falconeri
[48]
Indus river dolphin (national aquatic mammal)Platanista minor
[48]
Chukar (national bird)Alectoris chukar
[48]
Mugger crocodile (national reptile)Crocodylus palustris
[48]
Shaheen falcon (heritage bird)Falco peregrinus peregrinator
[49]
Snow leopard (national predator)Panthera uncia
[48]
 PanamaHarpy eagle (national bird)Harpia harpyja
[50]
 Peru Andean cock-of-the-rock (national bird)Rupicola peruviana
[51]
 Philippines Carabao (national animal) Bubalus bubalis
[52]
Philippine eagle (national bird)Pithecophaga jefferyi
[53]
 QatarArabian oryx (national animal)Oryx leucoryx
[54]
 Saint Kitts and NevisBrown pelican (national bird)Pelecanus occidentalis
[55]
 Saint LuciaSaint Lucia amazon (national bird)Amazona versicolor
[56]
 Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent amazon (national bird)Amazona guildingii
[57]
 Saudi ArabiaArabian camel (national animal)Camelus dromedarius
[58]
 South AfricaSpringbok (national animal)Antidorcas marsupialis
[59]
Blue crane (national bird)Anthropoides paradiseus
[60]
Galjoen (national fish)Dichistius capensis
[61]
 Sri LankaSri Lankan junglefowl (national bird)Gallus lafayettii
[62]
 TanzaniaGiraffe (national animal)Giraffa sp.
[63][64][65]
 Thailand Asian elephant (national animal)Elephas maximus
[66]
Siamese fighting fish (national aquatic animal)Betta splendens
[67][68]
 UgandaGrey crowned crane (national bird)Balearica regulorum
[69]
 United Arab EmiratesSaker falcon (national bird)Falco cherrug
[70]
Arabian oryx (national animal)Oryx leucoryx
[71]
 United StatesBald eagle (national bird)Haliaeetus leucocephalus
[72]
American bison (national mammal)Bison bison
[73]
 ZimbabweBateleur (national bird)Terathopius ecaudatus
[74]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ commonly known as the Latin name

References

  1. ↑ Zhu, Jintao; Ilsinger, Gregor (September 2023). "Political animals in the Modern World: An Investigation of the National Animal Symbol". Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism. 23 (2): 195–215. doi:10.1111/sena.12396. ISSN 1473-8481.
  2. 1 2 Hammerschlag, Neil; Gallagher, Austin J. (August 2017). "Extinction Risk and Conservation of the Earth's National Animal Symbols". BioScience. 67 (8): 744–749. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix054. ISSN 0006-3568.
  3. 1 2 3 Zhu, Jintao (2021). "The Modern Totem: An Overview of the National Animal On its Role in Forming National Identity" (PDF). Pi Sigma Alpha. 2 (21): 22.
  4. ↑ García, Enrique (November 2020). "Gender Perspectives on National and Nation-State Animal Symbolism". Sage Journals. doi:10.1177/1097184X20965457. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "The Fennec Fox: Algeria's National Animal". algeria.com. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 Government of Antigua and Barbuda. "Our National Symbols". ab.gov.ag. Retrieved 10 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)Category:CS1 maint: deprecated archival service
  7. ↑ "Furnarius rufus (Hornero, Casero, Caserito, Albañil, Hornerillo, Alonsito (Argentina), Joao-de-barro (Brasil), Alonso García (Paraguay), Tiluchi (Bolivia), Obirog, Ogaraití (guaraní) - Rufous Hornero) | SIB, Parques Nacionales, Argentina". Sistema de Información de Biodiversidad.
  8. ↑ "Qarabağ atı". 17 November 2020.
  9. 1 2 Government of The Bahamas. "Official Website for the Government of The Bahamas". bahamas.gov.bs. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "National Symbols". Bangladesh Tourism Board. Bangladesh: Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "National Symbols – Government of Belize Press Office". Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  12. ↑ "The National Symbols". Government of Belize. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "National Symbols – Embassy and Permanent Mission of Botswana in Switzerland". Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Embassy of Brazil in Washington". Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Forestry.gov.kh" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Official symbols of Canada". Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  17. ↑ "National Symbol of Canada Act". Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  18. ↑ "National Horse of Canada Act". Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  19. ↑ "National symbols and other information of interest | Cancillería". www.cancilleria.gov.co. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  20. 1 2 3 "Presidencia de la República de Costa Rica". Presidencia de la República de Costa Rica (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2022.Category:CS1 Spanish-language sources (es)
  21. 1 2 "¡Perezoso es oficialmente símbolo nacional!". Presidencia de la República de Costa Rica (in Spanish). 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.Category:CS1 Spanish-language sources (es)
  22. ↑ AMPP Yaguajay Communicator. "El Tocororo, Ave Nacional de Cuba, the most beautiful in the country". Portal del ciudadano de Yaguajay.
  23. 1 2 3 "Nationalplanter og -dyr" [Nationalplants and -animals] (in Danish). Naturstyrelsen, Danish Ministry of the Environment. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.Category:CS1 Danish-language sources (da)
  24. ↑ "National Bird - Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica". dominica.gov.dm. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  25. ↑ "Decreto Legislativo No 735 del 21 de octubre de 1999" (PDF). Diario Oficial (in Spanish). 345 (216). San Salvador: Imprenta Nacional de El Salvador: 6. 19 November 1999. Retrieved 22 July 2017.Category:CS1 Spanish-language sources (es)
  26. 1 2 3 4 "State Insignia". eesti.ee. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  27. 1 2 3 4 "Iconic Finnish nature symbols stand out". this is Finland. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  28. ↑ "National Symbols". Government of Grenada | Web Portal. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  29. ↑ "05 de septiembre, Día del Quetzal, Ave Nacional". CONAP (in Spanish). 4 September 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2022.Category:CS1 Spanish-language sources (es)
  30. ↑ "MiAmbiente+ participa en la 6ta Liberación de Guacamayas en Valle de Copán".
  31. 1 2 3 "Symbols". Latvia.eu. 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  32. ↑ "National Animal -National Symbols - Know India: National Portal of India". National Portal of India. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  33. ↑ "National Bird -National Symbols - Know India: National Portal of India". National Portal of India. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  34. ↑ "National Aquatic Animal -National Symbols - Know India: National Portal of India". National Portal of India. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  35. ↑ "Elephant declared National Heritage Animal in India". Breaking News Online (India). 2010. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  36. 1 2 3 Keputusan Presiden (KEPPRES) tentang Satwa dan Bunga Nasional [Presidential Decrees Number 4 of 1993] (Presidential Decrees 4) (in Indonesian). Government of the Republic of Indonesia. 1993. p. 1-4. Retrieved 13 May 2023.Category:CS1 Indonesian-language sources (id)
  37. ↑ "National Symbols of Jamaica". jis.gov.jm. Archived from the original on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  38. ↑ جمعية الأرض: لحماية وانقاذ الضبع المخطط في لبنان [Earth Association: To protect and save the striped hyena in Lebanon] (in Arabic). National News Agency. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2025.Category:CS1 uses Arabic-language script (ar)Category:CS1 Arabic-language sources (ar)
  39. ↑ "The number of storks is not decreasing in the Žuvintas biosphere reserve | State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment".
  40. ↑ "Nameless Story".
  41. ↑ "Mongolia names falcon as national bird". wwf.panda.org. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  42. ↑ "Saker Falcon, A National Bird of Mongolia". Birds Mongolia (in Mongolian). Retrieved 22 June 2022.Category:CS1 Mongolian-language sources (mn)
  43. ↑ "МАЗААЛАЙ БААВГАЙГ ҮНДЭСНИЙ БАХАРХАЛТ АМЬТНААР ЗАРЛАХ ТУХАЙ". Эрх зүйн мэдээллийн нэгдсэн систем (in Mongolian). 13 December 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2025.Category:CS1 Mongolian-language sources (mn)
  44. ↑ "Constitution of Nepal, 2072" (PDF). Article 9 (B).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)Category:CS1 maint: others
  45. ↑ "Ley No. 795 que declara al guardabarranco, ave nacional de Nicaragua". Diario Oficial (in Spanish) (118). Managua: La Gaceta. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2017.Category:CS1 Spanish-language sources (es)
  46. ↑ Kang Su-jong (2015). "Symbols of Korea" (PDF). Korea Pictorial. No. 4. pp. 26–27. ISSN 1727-9208. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
  47. ↑ Song, Kong Yo (18 November 2023). "The Magpie-the National Bird of the DPRK". Kim Il Sung University. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 "National Symbols of Pakistan". Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  49. ↑ "National Symbols of Pakistan". Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  50. ↑ Prensa (10 April 2021). "Panamá posee la población más grande de Águilas Harpías de Centroamérica – MiAmbiente" (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 June 2022.Category:CS1 Spanish-language sources (es)
  51. ↑ "Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado - SERNANP". old.sernanp.gob.pe. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  52. ↑ Rey, Maestro Valle (11 December 2020). "Carabao | About The National Animal Of The Philippines". PhilNews. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  53. ↑ "Proclamation No. 615, s. 1995". gov.ph. 4 July 1995. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  54. ↑ "Arabian Oryx". www.visitqatar.qa. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  55. ↑ "National Symbols | Gov.Kn". 4 November 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  56. ↑ "The Saint Lucia Parrot (Amazona versicolor)". archive.stlucia.gov.lc. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  57. ↑ "The National Bird". foreign.gov.vc. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  58. ↑ "Camel culture: The history of Saudi's national animal". visitsaudi.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  59. ↑ "National animal | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  60. ↑ "National bird | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  61. ↑ "National fish | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  62. ↑ "Sri Lanka National Bird". Government of Sri Lanka Official Web Portal. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  63. ↑ "National Symbols: National Animal". tanzania.go.tz. Tanzania Government Portal. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  64. ↑ Foley, Charles; Foley, Lara; Lobora, Alex; De Luca, Daniela; Msuha, Maurus; Davenport, Tim R.B.; Durant, Sarah M. (8 June 2014). A Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Tanzania. Princeton University Press. pp. 179–. ISBN 978-1-4008-5280-2.
  65. ↑ Knappert, Jan (1987). East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda. New Delhi: Vikas Pub. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-7069-2822-8. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  66. ↑ "The government gazette about National symbols of Thailand" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 118 (99D): 1. 11 December 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2012.
  67. ↑ "Siamese fighting fish confirmed as national aquatic animal". Bangkok Post. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  68. ↑ AFP (5 February 2019). "Thailand makes Siamese fighting fish national aquatic animal". Business Standard India. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  69. ↑ "National Symbols". www.gou.go.ug. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  70. ↑ "Discover all about Falconry". Visit Dubai. Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023. the UAE is the premier world centre for falconry – the falcon is, after all, the country's national bird
  71. ↑ "Arabia's Wildlife Centre". Visit Sharjah. Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority. Located in Sharjah Desert Park, Arabia's Wildlife Centre hosts several animals, including the Arabian Oryx, the UAE's national animal, and the Arabian leopard, the region's famous big cat.
  72. ↑ "The American Bald Eagle" (PDF). United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
  73. ↑ "Bison Bellows: America's New National Mammal (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  74. ↑ "Zimbabwe Bird". Official Government of Zimbabwe Web Portal. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
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