Pelicans have been living in London’s St James’s Park since 1664, when the Russian Ambassador gave a pair of Great White pelicans to King Charles II as a diplomatic gift.

MediaFaro   MediaFaro13 July 2026
The animals have always been manually replaced because, until June 2026, they never successfully hatched chicks.
A pelican in St James’s Park London on 29 May 2024. | Credit: Daderot