Why Rhinos Are Ill-Tempered

Why Rhinos Are Ill-Tempered (and how Giraffe got such a long neck), an East African folktale

In the Beginning, the Giraffe had a normal neck and looked a bit like a large Antelope, and it grazed the lush grasses and shrubs along with the other herbivores

One year, there was a terrible drought. All the waterholes dried up, and all the grasses and bushes the animals browsed upon dried out too. The animals were extremely hungry

Giraffe looked everywhere for something to eat. Looking up, he noticed that the leaves on the treetops were still fresh and tasty. He tried in vain to stretch his neck upwards to reach them

His friend Rhino saw this and laughed, snidely remarking how silly Giraffe looked. Giraffe, annoyed at being laughed at, stormed off until he couldn’t hear Rhino giggling anymore

Along the trail he passed an old man who stopped and asked Giraffe why he was so upset. Giraffe told him, in a shaky voice, as he was still angry and even hungrier now

Nodding sympathetically, the old man said "I am a witch doctor, and I have a special herb here that will make your friend Rhino regret laughing at you"

He gave the herb to Giraffe, who ate it quickly. Suddenly, Giraffe felt very strange… he watched the ground start to get further and further away, even though he was standing still!

Feeling dizzy, Giraffe closed his eyes… when he opened them he could see the luscious leaves at the treetops he had always longed for, level with his head, and he eagerly began to eat them

Having eaten his fill, Giraffe walked to the waterhole for a drink and was shocked at what he saw. His reflection revealed why he could reach the treetops: his neck was now ten times as long!

Word of Giraffe’s new look spread far and wide, amazing all the other animals… except for Rhino, who stomped and grumbled in a fit of jealousy. To this very day, Rhinos are infamously grumpy

(adapted, via Travel Butlers)

(images via Laurie Mulrine and Publisher’s Weekly)