A national emblem is a symbol that is important to a country. It may represent a country or things that are of importance to a country. National symbols include a flower, tree, animal, fish and bird which defines the nation. Many symbols convey the country’s history, rich tradition and culture. Other symbols include a national flag and a national anthem. This article shares some national symbols from around the world.
The Emu, next to the ostrich is the second-largest bird in the world. The emu is the bird symbol of its homeland Australia. Designed to live on the arid wilderness, emus have a specialized respiratory system that allows them to cool themselves and save water. The Kangaroo is the national animal symbol of Australia where it lives; it has strong legs that allow them to jump. A large kangaroo can cover nine meters in a single leap. The flower symbol of Australia is the Golden Wattle.
The Red Maple Leaf is the symbol of Canada. During her visit to Canada in 1860 Queen Victoria wore the maple leaf as a symbol of this country. The song ‘The Maple Leaf Forever’ became Canada’s national song. During World Wars the maple leaf was on the badges of Canadian soldiers. The Beaver, the second-largest rodent in the world is a large, semi-aquatic rodent known for building dams, canals, and their homes. The beaver became the national animal of Canada in 1975.
The Solitary Okapi closely related to the giraffe is the animal symbol of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The okapi is only found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Little is known about the shy national animal symbol that it was not recognized as a species until the 20th century.
The Ganges River Dolphin, lives in freshwater lakes and rivers in one of the world’s most densely populated areas. This unusual mammal is nicknamed the ‘Susu’ because of the sound it makes when coming to the surface for air. It’s the national fish symbol of India.
The Shamrock is the plant symbol of Ireland. Many places, organizations, businesses, products, creative works etc. use the shamrock in their names. The shamrock refers to the young sprigs of clover or trefoil. According to legend it is known as a symbol of Ireland which St. Patrick used as a metaphor for the Christian Trinity. The shamrock was traditionally used for its medical properties.
The Dodo, extinct since 1681, is the bird symbol of the island of Mauritius, where it once lived. Little is known about this flightless bird that evolved and flourished in virtual isolation until the arrival of humans and other bird-eating mammals.
The Kiwi is the bird symbol of New Zealand. The kiwi lives only in New Zealand; it is a bird but does not have a tail or wings. The kiwi lives in forests and prefers to spend time in the dark. The kiwi weighs only 2 kg but has a very good appetite, the bird eats fruit and insects. The association is so strong that the term Kiwi is used internationally as the name of New Zealanders.
The Dugong, closely related to elephants is the national animal of symbol of Papua New Guinea; the dugong looks like its other kin, the manatee. These enormous vegetarians are believed to be the inspiration for ancient tales of mermaids.
The national- symbol of the United States of America is the Eagle. The bird is a symbol of courage and power. The eagle is very large, it can fly very well, and it builds nests on the top of the mountains where nobody can get to. These birds hunt only during the day. At night they sit on their nests. The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of American democracy. It stands on Liberty Island in New York. It is one of the first things people see when they arrive in New York by sea.
The Arabian Oryx is well suited to its hard desert environment, with a white coat to reflect the sun’s rays and wide hooves for walking on sand. The following countries all claim this adaptable antelope as their official animal Jordan, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
The majestic bird of prey, The Golden Eagle is the national animal of Albania, Egypt, Iraq, Germany and Mexico. These raptors are extremely fast and can dive after prey at speeds of more than 241km per hour.
The Lion, king of the beasts is the most popular national animal. With the loudest roar of all the big cats, lions can be heard from 8km away. The majestic feline proudly represents Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, England, Ethiopia, Iran, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Morocco The Netherlands, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
While appearing graceful and placid, The Mute Swan has a voracious appetite and can be quite aggressive. It’s the national symbol of United Kingdom and Denmark. With its hoarse voice, the swan is not mute; its wingbeats can be heard as far as a mile away.
As the largest member of the cat family, the Siberian Tiger can eat up to 88 pounds of meat at one time, and is the symbol of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Burma, South Korea and Vietnam. Malaysia claims the smaller, but still impressive, Malayan Tiger as its national animal.