Culture & sport · Updated September 2026
National animals
National animals: the bald eagle (USA), tiger (India), kangaroo (Australia), giant panda (China) and kiwi (New Zealand). How a symbol is chosen — and that lists disagree.
A national animal is a symbol, not a scientific rank. Governments, tourism boards and school books sometimes disagree. Use the official emblem if a ministry has named one.
High-search pairs: United States — bald eagle; India — Bengal tiger; Australia — red kangaroo (and the emu on the coat of arms); China — giant panda; New Zealand — kiwi; South Africa — springbok; Canada — beaver; UK — the lion is heraldic (not a wild British species).
National birds, trees and flowers sit on the same quiz family. Pair this with flags and capitals if you are revising a “country profile” test.
National animals — key facts (2026)
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| USA | Bald eagle |
| India | Tiger (national animal); peacock (national bird) |
| Australia | Red kangaroo / emu (arms) |
| China | Giant panda (widely used symbol) |
| New Zealand | Kiwi |
| Canada | Beaver |
| South Africa | Springbok |
| UK | Lion in heraldry — no wild lions in Britain |
Figures are the usual classroom and news-desk numbers for 2026. Border disputes and membership votes can change a count by one or two.
People also ask
What is the national animal of the United States?
The bald eagle.
What is the national animal of India?
The tiger. The peacock is the national bird; the lotus is the national flower.
Does every country have one official animal?
No. Some never legislated one. Tourist sites fill the gap — prefer a government page for exams.