It has always amused me that the tourists to the US that I’ve spoken to are often very excited to see raccoons, and disappointed if they don’t see them before they leave.
Some others I’ve noticed on the east coast of the US are blue jays and cardinals. Boy, do people get excited about those if they’ve never seen them before! Very pretty birds of course, just very easy to get used to and see as uninteresting as well.
Cows and monkeys in India
The word “monkey” does not do justice to the diversity of primate species. What are commonly referred to as monkeys are actually macaques. With that being said, India is also popular for langurs, lutungs, lorises and gibbons.
As far as bovine species are considered, people often forget gaurs. They’re quite jacked.
You’re absolutely right. In India the most common species of monkey is actually the ones we see on our news asking us to vote for them.
People take pictures of those, too, I think.