The World's National Animals: A Country-by-Country Guide

Tap a country to see its national animal and the story behind it.

United States 🇺🇸

National bird: Bald Eagle. A symbol of strength and freedom, also featured on the Great Seal of the United States.

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

National animal: Lion. A symbol of courage, long used on the British royal coat of arms.

China 🇨🇳

National animal: Giant Panda. A rare animal found only in China, so representative of the nation that it is loaned to other countries through "panda diplomacy."

Australia 🇦🇺

National animal: Kangaroo. Since it can only hop forward, it appears on Australia's coat of arms as a symbol of "a nation that never retreats."

Canada 🇨🇦

National animal: Beaver. A symbol of industriousness, officially designated as a national symbol for its deep ties to Canada's early fur-trade history.

India 🇮🇳

National animal: Bengal Tiger. A symbol of both strength and grace, also a symbol of India's government wildlife-conservation efforts.

Russia 🇷🇺

National animal: Brown Bear. Widely known as a symbol of strength and Russia's vast wilderness.

France 🇫🇷

National symbol: Gallic Rooster. Originates from a pun — the ancient Roman word for the people of Gaul, Gallus, is the same word Latin used for "rooster."

Mexico 🇲🇽

National animal: Golden Eagle. An eagle perched on a cactus holding a snake is the central scene of Mexico's founding legend, depicted at the center of the national flag.

Kenya 🇰🇪

National animal: Lion. A symbol of courage and strength, appearing on Kenya's coat of arms and various official emblems.

South Korea 🇰🇷

National bird: Magpie; national animal: Tiger. The magpie is Korea's national bird, tied to a traditional folk belief that it brings good news, while the tiger is a widely beloved animal symbolizing the Korean Peninsula.

New Zealand 🇳🇿

National bird: Kiwi. A distinctive flightless bird so central to national identity that New Zealanders often call themselves "Kiwis."

How Is a National Animal Chosen?

A national animal is one that symbolizes a country's history, mythology, or natural environment, and it typically appears alongside other national emblems like a coat of arms. Some are formally designated by law, while others have become national symbols naturally through long custom and public sentiment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a country have more than one national animal?

Yes — many countries designate several kinds of national animals together, such as a separate national bird and national mammal.

Does a national animal always actually live only in that country?

Not necessarily. Some animals, like the lion, are used as a symbol by multiple countries at once, and in many cases symbolic meaning matters more than whether the animal actually lives there.