I'll tell you a bit of a truth...
When I was a child I always thought monkeys were playful creatures and were my favourate animal. When I started out on the internet at my pre-teen age I went by "Mystic Monkey" because I liked monkeys. Even making my main Sonic OC with the name.
Now I find monkeys troublesome, aggressive, disease-ridden and more favoured to other animals like grey squirrels or rabbits. But because I've been known as "Mystic Monkey" for so long it's a bit too late for a change of identity.
I mean, I don't "hate" monkeys, I mean, I still like them, just monkeys aren't exactly native to Britain.
An already established nickname, so that's why.
Favorite animal doesn't have to be native to your place.
I love Sloth but there is no Sloth here either.