Why Giraffes Share the Top Leaves — At first light, when the grass still smelled silver with dew, Tavi set herself a challenge: before the sun touched the far hill, she would taste the berries no one else could reach. Read the full story →
At first light, when the grass still smelled silver with dew, Tavi set herself a challenge: before the sun touched the far hill, she would taste the berries no one else could reach. She stepped softly past the thornbushes, her hooves making hush-hush sounds in the sand. Above her, the top leaves whispered where the sweetest berries hid.
Tavi stretched until her neck felt like a warm rope pulled toward the sky. The berries brushed her nose—plump, purple, shining with juice. Just as she curled her tongue around one, a small hornbill below gave a tiny sneeze. “I can smell them,” he said, “but I cannot climb that high.”
The berry burst on Tavi’s tongue, bright as a laugh. The joy was too big to stay inside one mouth. She bent the branch down gently, and birds, beetles, and little antelope nibbled together in the honeyed shade. Ever since, giraffes reach the top leaves first so they can bring the best of the trees down to everyone. If you find Tavi among the branches, can you spot the berries she saved to share?
