Bye Churchill, Hi Badger 

It hasn’t been a great time for Winston Churchill. Because of the Iran war, many people are again talking about how he helped plan the 1953 Iranian coup d’état, which damaged Iran’s relationship with Western countries. And now, in Britain, he is also going to disappear from new banknotes made by the Bank of England.

Instead of famous people, the new notes may show animals that live in Britain. That’s a fun idea. But for Indians, the animals they are discussing might seem a bit boring. They are talking about foxes, badgers, hedgehogs, and red deer. Compared with India’s animals—tigers, elephants, rhinos, lions, and leopards—that list feels a little ordinary. Even the animal charity Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wants pigeons and rats to be included because they are often ignored!

Indian money has shown animals like rhinos, tigers, and elephants before. But why should animals appear only on money? In most public places—like parks and town squares—we mostly see statues of famous humans. Maybe that should change. Imagine statues of animals instead: whale sharks, barasingha deer, hornbills, or gharials. That might also stop people from arguing about which politician deserves a statue.

Wildlife expert Valmik Thapar writes in his book Land of the Tiger about how India’s animals live in many kinds of places—snowy mountains, deserts, forests, rivers, and islands. India has so many animals and plants partly because people here have long believed that humans should share the land with other living creatures.

But today that natural world is in danger. Forests and wild areas are often turned into roads, malls, tall buildings, dams, and airports. Instead of destroying more nature, we should try rewilding—bringing nature back and fixing what we have damaged. That’s good for animals, and it’s good for people too.

And one last funny thing: British money might say goodbye to Churchill—but it will still keep Charles III on it!