Animal Diplomacy: How Animals Became Tools of Diplomacy

Animal Diplomacy: From Ancient Gifts to Modern Conservation

Why in News?

• China’s decision to loan two giant pandas to the United States after the recent Donald Trump–Xi Jinping meeting has brought animal diplomacy back into focus. 
• Animal diplomacy refers to the strategic use of animals as gifts, loans or symbols of goodwill in international relations. 

History of Animal Diplomacy:

• Animal diplomacy refers to the strategic use of animals as gifts, loans or national symbols to promote diplomatic ties, project soft power and build goodwill between countries.
• The practice dates back thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian rulers are believed to have exchanged African animals with rulers in the Mediterranean. 
• In 802 CE, Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid gifted an elephant named Abul-Abbas to Charlemagne. 
• In the 17th century, Russia sent a polar bear to the King of Sweden as a rare diplomatic gift. 
• Birds, particularly falcons, have also historically been exchanged as symbols of goodwill.

Panda Diplomacy and Global Examples:

• China’s panda diplomacy became particularly prominent in the 20th century. 
• It began in 1957, when China gifted pandas to the Soviet Union, followed by a similar exchange with the United States in 1972. 
• Since 1984, China has largely replaced permanent panda gifts with long-term leasing arrangements, generally lasting around 10 years. 
• Australia also used animal diplomacy when it sent a platypus named Winston to Britain in 1943. 
• In recent times, China generally uses scientific loans rather than permanent gifts, with pandas remaining Chinese property. 

India and Animal Diplomacy:

• In 1414, envoys from Malindi presented a giraffe to Admiral Zheng He in Bengal as a tribute to the Ming emperor Yongle. 
• Sultan Muzaffar II of Gujarat gifted a rhinoceros to Portugal in the 16th century. The animal later inspired Albrecht Dürer’s famous “The Rhinoceros.” 
• Mughal Emperor Jahangir was fascinated by exotic animals and maintained contacts with Portuguese traders to acquire rare species. 
• After independence, Jawaharlal Nehru gifted elephants to several countries, including Japan. 
• India’s Project Cheetah, launched in 2022 through cooperation with Namibia and later South Africa and Botswana, represents a modern conservation-linked form of animal diplomacy. 
• In 2026, India also gifted five peacocks to the United Nations for its European headquarters in Geneva. 

Soft Power and Conservation:

• Animals can serve as cultural symbols and help countries project soft power by creating emotional connections with foreign populations. 
• Such exchanges can also demonstrate trust, as the receiving country is expected to provide proper care and conservation. 
• However, placing endangered animals in foreign habitats can create conservation and welfare concerns. 

CITES and Changing Animal Diplomacy:

• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted in 1973 and entered into force in 1975. 
• Following stronger conservation norms, permanent animal gifts increasingly gave way to temporary scientific loans and conservation partnerships. 
• China’s panda loans are an important example of this approach. 
• Malaysia’s proposed orangutan diplomacy in 2024 faced criticism because palm-oil expansion had contributed to habitat loss. Malaysia subsequently shifted towards funding in-situ orangutan conservation rather than sending orangutans abroad. 

Key Features of Animal Diplomacy:

• Soft-Power Tool: Iconic animals serve as cultural ambassadors, helping countries establish emotional connections with foreign populations beyond formal diplomatic channels. 
• Shift from Gifts to Conservation Loans: Modern animal diplomacy has gradually moved from permanent gifts towards temporary scientific or conservation-based loans, particularly for endangered species. 
• Conservation Regulation: International transfers of endangered wildlife are regulated under CITES, ensuring that diplomatic exchanges comply with conservation and anti-exploitation safeguards. 
• Global Practice: Animal diplomacy is not limited to pandas. Countries have used elephants, koalas, falcons, rhinos, cheetahs and other distinctive species for diplomatic purposes. 

Significance:

• Animals can act as relatable symbols of friendship, helping build trust and strengthen bilateral relations beyond formal negotiations. 
• Species closely associated with national identity can increase a country's cultural visibility and public diplomacy, while also attracting considerable public and media attention abroad.

About Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES):

• CITES is an international agreement between governments that ensures international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. 
• It was adopted in 1973 and came into force in 1975. 
• It currently has 184 Parties and regulates international trade in more than 38,000 species.
• CITES is legally binding on its Parties, but it does not replace national laws. Each country must implement the Convention through its own legislation. 
• The CITES Secretariat is administered by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. 
• Member countries meet every 2–3 years at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to review implementation and revise the list of protected species. 

CITES Appendices:

• Appendix I: Includes species threatened with extinction. It provides the highest level of protection, with commercial international trade generally prohibited. 
• Appendix II: Includes species that are not currently threatened with extinction but could become so without regulation. International trade is permitted under controlled conditions and requires appropriate permits. 
• Appendix III: Includes species for which a particular country seeks cooperation from other CITES Parties to control international trade. Trade requires relevant permits or certificates of origin.

Practice Question

Q. With reference to Animal Diplomacy and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), consider the following statements:

1. Animal diplomacy has evolved from permanent gifting of animals towards temporary scientific or conservation loans, particularly in the case of endangered species. 
2. CITES is legally binding on its Parties and directly replaces their domestic wildlife laws for regulating international trade in protected species. 
3. Species listed under CITES Appendix II may be traded internationally under regulated conditions, provided the required conservation safeguards are satisfied. 
4. Appendix III includes species for which a country seeks cooperation from other CITES Parties to control international trade. 

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4 only

Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

• Modern animal diplomacy has increasingly shifted from permanent gifts towards temporary scientific or conservation loans, particularly for endangered species. Hence, Statement 1 is Correct. 
• CITES is legally binding on its Parties, but it does not replace national laws; each country implements the Convention through its own legislation. Hence, Statement 2 is Incorrect. 
• Appendix II covers species that may become threatened without trade controls, and regulated international trade is permitted subject to appropriate safeguards and permits. Hence, Statement 3 is Correct. 
• Appendix III covers species for which a particular country seeks assistance from other CITES Parties to control international trade. Hence, Statement 4 is Correct.