One of the greatest assets of the Dynatrace Community is how global it is. Our users originate from hundreds of nations, which is especially priceless when it comes to Community Challenges. That international landscape brings together countless unique, local perspectives
This time, we’re asking to share your local National Treasures! Name the most famous animal of your country that serves as a symbol and an icon of the wilderness. Have you seen one in person and snapped a picture? Great! Haven’t had the chance yet? Don’t worry, share your nation’s animal treasure anyway in the comments below!
Benefits of taking Community Challenges!
Every participant receives a unique “National Treasure Badge”
You will also get +100 bonus points for extra activity
Bald eagle was my first thought for the United States. I had to go ask ChatGPT and thankfully it said the same thing but also added a American Bison. Sorry I don’t have any pictures that I took.
From ChatGPT:
The Bald Eagle is considered a national treasure of the United States.
It was officially adopted as the national bird and symbol in 1782 because of its strength, freedom, and long life, and it appears on the Great Seal of the United States. Bald eagles are protected by federal law under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, making them both a symbol and a legally safeguarded part of American heritage.
If you were asking in the broader sense, some also consider the American Bison a national treasure — it was declared the national mammal in 2016.
So you could say the U.S. has:
Bald Eagle – national bird, symbol of freedom
American Bison – national mammal, symbol of strength and resilience
This little orange bird with a crown on its head became Israel’s national bird in 2008 in honor of celebrating 60 years of Israeli independence. The president at the time, Shimon Peres, announced the bird’s new position, which again, was chosen by the people of Israel. These birds have been in Israel for thousands of years and are even mentioned in Book of Deuteronomy.
The official national animal of Argentina is the ovenbird (Furnarius rufus). It is also known as the “homemaker,” “insect hunter,” or “mason bird.” It is a small, reddish-brown bird known for its clay nests, which resemble ovens.
In addition to the ovenbird, Argentina has other emblematic animals and national symbols, such as the Andean condor and the jaguar. The Andean condor is a majestic bird that appears on the national coat of arms. The jaguar, although not the official national animal, is an important symbol of Argentine fauna and is in danger of extinction.
The national bird of India is the Indian Peafowl, also commonly referred to as the Peacock. It’s famous for its vibrant colors and beautiful tail feathers, symbolizing grace and beauty in Indian culture.
I don’t think Portugal has a national animal. The Portuguese man o’ war isn’t really Portuguese, and not something to meet or get near, not even for a picture.
So I’ll name the rooster of Barcelos. Not really an animal, but a colorful, styled cockerel. And yes, it’s made it up to space, with the help of a friend of mine:
As someone who grew up in India and now living in Australia, I get to choose from two stunningly different landscapes, each vibrant and wild in its own way. :slightly_smiling_face:
Interesting fact - These two animals were chosen not only because they are native to Australia, but also because neither can easily walk backward, symbolizing progress and forward movement :cowboy_hat_face:
Ha! We’re almost neighbors, I’m from Rio Grande do Sul so close from Argentina and we do have a lot of shared cultures. So, from us this little bird is the Rufous hornero (João-de-barro) :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
In the Czech Republic, the national animal is the Czech double-tailed lion, which is paradoxical since lions do not live in the Czech Republic, the heart of Europe (not counting those in zoos, and they don’t have two tails). Then there is the black eagle, which is a similar kind of fairy tale.
According to ChatGPT, the lion looks like this, and I hope I get to see it someday
When I think about it, that lion actually has three tails, doesn’t it?
For Austria the national animal would be the golden eagle (Kaiseradler), which also is on the coats of arms, but if you want it more wilderness related the national bird is the barn swallow (Rauchschwalbe) - could not yet snap a picture myself as they are pretty fast fliers. You often can see them fly and it is a common rule that if they fly low that weather will turn bad (lower barometric pressure keeps their food insects lower to the ground).
Luckily, most countries in the Americas are very peaceful and there’s a strong sense of brotherhood among us — except when it comes to football. Haha! :winking_face_with_tongue:
Japan does not have a designated national animal.
However, there are rare places in Japan where wild deer and humans coexist. Many deer live around Nara Park, a popular tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors. These wild deer have been living in this area for 1,300 years. Nara’s deer have been carefully protected as messengers of the gods since the establishment of Kasuga Taisha Shrine. While deer are not rare, you can see some interesting sights here. For example, you can see deer resting in front of souvenir shops, Deer walking across the crosswalk, and strolling around the adjacent university campus. You can also see many deer on Google Street View.
Just coming back from my honeymoon we spent time in Sweden (where I grew up) and Norway. One animal present in both countries, and in Sweden known as “The king of the forest” is the elk/moose.
We even have parks where you can go and pet them. I went to this one last year: Gårdsjö Älgpark – Ett minne för livet their antlers are very nice to touch.
Every participant receives a unique “National Treasure Badge”
– national bird, symbol of freedom
– national mammal, symbol of strength and resilience
It’s famous for its vibrant colors and beautiful tail feathers, symbolizing grace and beauty in Indian culture.
