I promise you, the badger is not the ‘staple of Europe’ that people outside of Europe are making it out to be. The badger I have not seen in a single zoo. The badger is as much a staple of Europe as much as the possum is a staple of North America. Sure they live there, but they are far from the first animal that comes to mind.
The three staples of Europe are the Brown Bear, Wisent and Grey Wolf. Followed closely by the Lynx. The European Brown Bear is quite literally an icon of the continent, being so widespread and the largest land carnivore. To say the boar and badger even compare to it as an ‘iconic species’ is wild
The bear is to Europe what the lion is to Africa; a staple. It is absolutely necessary to Europe’s representation. And I’m gutted that it was missed out on multiple occasions.