National Animals of Asia
Asia holds the largest share of countries on this site, and its symbols run from the polar bear of Greenland to the komodo dragon of Indonesia. The continent is home to the tiger, the giant panda, the snow leopard and the Arabian oryx, so the conservation story behind many of these emblems is a conservation warning as much as a celebration.
Afghanistan
Panthera uncia
Only 100 to 200 snow leopards remain in Afghanistan's mountains.
Armenia
Aquila chrysaetos
The eagle-and-lion pair on Armenia's coat of arms dates to the ancient Artaxiad dynasty.
Azerbaijan
Equus caballus
This ancient mountain-steppe breed can maintain speed on near-vertical slopes.
Bahrain
Oryx leucoryx
Bahrain runs one of the oldest captive-breeding programs for the once-extinct oryx.
Bangladesh
Panthera tigris tigris
The Sundarbans mangrove forest is home to a unique population of swimming tigers.
Bhutan
Bos grunniens
Legend says this goat-antelope was assembled from spare parts by a saint.
Brunei
Haliaeetus leucogaster
This coastal raptor patrols Brunei's mangroves and shorelines.
Cambodia
Bos sauveli
The kouprey, a wild forest ox, was declared Cambodia's national animal by royal decree in 1964.
China
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
China loans pandas to other countries as a form of diplomacy.
Cyprus
Ovis ophion
This wild sheep is the largest wild animal on Cyprus and appears on its 1, 2, and 5-cent coins.
Georgia
Panthera pardus ciscaucasica
Once thought extinct in Georgia, the leopard has been photographed there since 2003.
India
Panthera tigris tigris
India is home to more than 70% of the world's wild tigers.
Indonesia
Varanus komodoensis
The world's largest lizard lives on just a handful of Indonesian islands.
Iran
Panthera leo persica
The Asiatic lion appeared on Iran's flag until 1979.
Iraq
Alectoris chukar
This ground-dwelling bird is celebrated in classical Arabic poetry from Mesopotamia.
Israel
Gazella gazella
The mountain gazelle is one of the fastest animals in the Middle East.
Japan
Phasianus versicolor
The green pheasant appears in Japan's oldest folk tale, Momotaro.
Jordan
Carpodactylus sinaitus
This pink desert bird was named Jordan's national bird in 1997.
Kazakhstan
Aquila chrysaetos
Kazakh eagle hunters train golden eagles to hunt foxes and hares from horseback.
Kuwait
Camelus dromedarius
The Arabian camel is central to Kuwait's Bedouin heritage and appears in its folklore.
Kyrgyzstan
Panthera uncia
Kyrgyz mythology treats the snow leopard as a symbol of nobility and protection.
Laos
Elephas maximus
Laos was historically known as Lan Xang - the 'Land of a Million Elephants'.
Lebanon
Hyaena hyaena
Lebanon's national animal is a nocturnal scavenger that ranges across the mountains.
Malaysia
Panthera tigris jacksoni
Two tigers hold up the Malaysian coat of arms.
Maldives
Thunnus albacares
The pole-and-line tuna fishery is central to Maldivian identity and cuisine.
Mongolia
Equus ferus przewalskii
The world's only truly wild horse species, native to the Mongolian steppe.
Myanmar
Pavo muticus
The dancing peacock has been a Burmese royal symbol since the Konbaung dynasty.
Nepal
Bos taurus
The cow is sacred and protected by the constitution of Nepal.
North Korea
a legendary figure, not a species
The mythical winged horse is said to be too swift for any mortal rider to mount.
Oman
Oryx leucoryx
Oman was the first country to have a UNESCO site delisted, after opening it for oryx-habitat oil exploration.
Pakistan
Capra falconeri
This spiral-horned wild goat can climb near-vertical cliff faces.
Philippines
Pithecophaga jefferyi
One of the rarest and largest eagles in the world, with a 2m wingspan.
Qatar
Oryx leucoryx
The oryx named 'Orry' was the mascot of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.
Saudi Arabia
Camelus dromedarius
Dromedary camels were domesticated on the Arabian peninsula over 3,000 years ago.
Singapore
Panthera leo
The name 'Singapura' means Lion City in Sanskrit, though lions never lived there.
South Korea
Panthera tigris altaica
Koreans traditionally see the Korean peninsula as tiger-shaped.
Sri Lanka
Panthera leo kotiya
The lion on Sri Lanka's flag references an extinct lion species that once lived there.
Syria
Aquila chrysaetos
The golden hawk on Syria's emblem references the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad.
Taiwan
Ursus thibetanus formosanus
Taiwan's only native bear has a distinctive white V-shaped chest patch.
Tajikistan
Ovis ammon orientalis
This wild sheep has the longest horns of any sheep, spiraling up to 1.9m.
Thailand
Elephas maximus
The white elephant once appeared on Thailand's national flag.
Tonga
Megaptera novaeangliae
Tonga is one of very few places on Earth where you can legally swim with humpback whales.
Turkey
Canis lupus
The Bozkurt is a legendary ancestor in Turkic mythology.
Turkmenistan
Equus caballus
The 'golden horse' has a metallic sheen and appears on Turkmenistan's coat of arms.
Uzbekistan
a legendary figure, not a species
The mythical humo bird on Uzbekistan's emblem is said to bring happiness to whoever it flies over.
Vietnam
Bubalus bubalis
The water buffalo represents strength and rural Vietnamese life.
Yemen
Panthera pardus nimr
Fewer than 200 Arabian leopards remain, mostly in Yemen's remote highlands.
National animals of other continents
Can you place them on the globe?
Explore how many you can identify from the animal alone.