I live in Australia. My kids are well-versed in British and American animals like squirrels, badgers, hares, raccoons, moose, bears and deer from childrens books and songs.
However, we don't have any of them here in Australia.
Knowledge of animals and experience in nature are frequently unrelated. My kids spend plenty of time outside but how often do they see animals (other than the occasional bird)? They're asleep when possums and fruit bats are around. They occasionally see kangaroos on their grandparents farm. In general though, they see cats, dogs and other pets: the animals we deliberately introduce to kids.
However, we don't have any of them here in Australia.
Knowledge of animals and experience in nature are frequently unrelated. My kids spend plenty of time outside but how often do they see animals (other than the occasional bird)? They're asleep when possums and fruit bats are around. They occasionally see kangaroos on their grandparents farm. In general though, they see cats, dogs and other pets: the animals we deliberately introduce to kids.