Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Faux Animal Characters: Being blue makes this monkey special. With others of his ilk, he constitutes the welcoming committee at the Guadalajara Zoo. The sculptures are as playful as the reality they represent. Thanks, Sergio Bustamante. [2008]

Monroe, Michigan, USA

Faux Animal Characters: Here's a beloved character right out of "kiddie lit": Little Brown Bear. His life was chronicled by Marjorie Upham in the 1940s and 50s. Now, he helps honor his creator outside the Monroe Public Library. But, where is Little Grey Goose? [2008]

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Faux Animal Characters: Here's an animal character that's not commercial. Her purpose is simply to spruce up the visual environment along First Street: perfect for Las Vegas, where eyes are always closed to naughtiness. [2016]

Amarillo, Texas, USA

Faux Animal Characters: That's a well-trained dragon, and he looks friendly, too. Think of him as comparable to the temple guardians of ancient Babylon, except that he is guarding a steak ranch. Doesn't he have a cousin in Dallas? [2018]

New York, New York, USA

Faux Animal Characters: Can animals be cloned? As the mascot of the FIFA World Cup in 2018, Zabivaka was! In fact, he was appearing everywhere. So, if you're having a hard time getting the word out, let a hothead wolf help. [2018]

Key West, Florida, USA

Faux Animal Characters: Don't forget to stop for Key Lime pie (on a stick!) while you are in the Florida Keys. If you do forget, maybe a young elephant calf will remind you as you stroll by the Key West Lime Shoppe. [2018]

Indianola, Iowa, USA

Faux Animal Characters: What better animal to advertise a car wash than an elephant! But why does the elephant have to be pink? Maybe this one isn't pink. Maybe you're hallucinating? But what about that one in California? [2008]

Palm Desert, California, USA

Real Animal Characters: You must have something unique to be a real character. That means the African warthog might be the most well qualified animal ever. [2015]

New York New York, USA

Real Animal Characters: The red panda may be smaller than his cousin, the giant panda, but he may be even cuter. Ever think you could see one in New York's Central Park? Here's proof that you can. How is that possible? [2018]

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Real Animal Characters: Lemurs come in a variety of species (over 100), including the black and white ruffed lemur. You may also be familiar with the ring-tailed lemur and the red lemur. They are among the stars of most zoos. [2014]

Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA

Real Animal Characters: You are in the presence of royalty: eye to eye with a king vulture. Just forget he's a carcass-loving flesh-eater and let yourself be drawn in by all that color. Want to see one in the wild? Head to the American tropics. [2018]

Beemerville, New Jersey, USA

Real Animal Characters: Do you recognize an aoudad when you come face to face with one? You may recognize his more common name: Barbary sheep. But, he's not really a sheep; nor is he a goat; he is simply an aoudad. [2018]

Bandung, Indonesia

Real Animal Characters: Real characters have something unique about them. On this picture, though, you can't see what makes the Arabian camel unique. What is it that you can't see? [2016]

Mandai, Republic of Singapore

Real Animal Characters: No other species of anything has a nose like that! In fact, the nose gives its name to the entire species: proboscis monkeys. You can tell by the long nose that this one's a male. He uses that nose to attract mates. [2016]

Granby, Quebec, Canada

Faux Human Characters: Of course, you know what he's stirring up in the kettle today! A love potion. Of course, you know who he is. Merlin. So, you also know it must be potent. Happy Valentine's Day. [2011]

Palm Beach, Aruba

Faux Human Characters: Captain Morgan was a Caribbean pirate and folk hero, who now makes it his life work to peddle his eponymous rum. He may have a Dutch name, and Aruba may be a Dutch island, but we are told he is Welsh! [2017]

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Faux Human Characters:  Here's a Mexican gentleman who is supposed to be so irresistible that you will just have to stop and dine. Bandanna and hat: Is it really fashionable to wear them together?[2016]

Wickenburg, Arizona, USA

Faux Human Characters: Say hello to the cowboy and the dance hall girl. So far, she hasn't consented to his proposition. How do we know? They have been locked in the same place for well over a decade: just like the jailbird across town. [2009]

Oaks, Pennsylvania, USA

Faux Human Characters:  Happy Halfwit Muffler Man used to stand on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Then, a gal named Sandy destroyed his home turf and he moved to the Expo Center in Oaks. You may know his cousin. [2018]

Georgetown, Kentucky, USA

Faux Human Characters:  Fancy a double-stack cheeseburger? This rendition of the Big Boy character was born in 1957. You may remember him from Bob's, Elby's, Frisch's, Elias Brothers, Shoney's, or about two dozen other restaurant chains. [2017]

Canyon, Texas, USA

Faux Human Characters: If you are passing through on the Hereford Highway, stop and say hello to Tex Randall. He's got a new suit of clothes and new lease on life. Does he look like he is 60 years old? [2018]

Tombstone, Arizona, USA

Real Human Characters: He's ready for a gunfight at the OK Corral. "I don't know why I get into gunfights. I guess sometimes I just get lonely." Could that be Billy Clanton? [2018]

Charleston, Illinois, USA

Real Human Characters: That's what Superman looks like on the prairies of eastern Illinois. Might you guess there is a college nearby? [2017]

Miami, Florida, USA

Real Human Characters: In 1920, the land boom began, and South Beach become one of the iconic destinations of the 20th  century. Today, the Roaring 20s are recreated for celluloid and digital media as actors dress to complement the architecture. [1991]

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Real Human Characters: Monsieur René has been a staple of Quebec street life for decades. That means, as buskers go, he must be one of the best. Juggle on, Monsieur René. [2018]

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Real Human Characters: Dress makes the man, and there is something unmistakable about Scottish dress. These soldiers (men and women!) are part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland: on parade in Edinburgh. [2017]

Edam, Netherlands

Real Human Characters: He is wearing wooden shoes to be oh-so Dutch. Don't you think they look a lot like the cheese for which his hometown, Edam, is famous? [1996]

Antwerp, Belgium

Real Human Characters: He is dressed as a fisherman for the annual Semini Festival, a propitious day on which to be married. But, why is he wearing a medal? [2015]