How the Ostrich Got Its Long Neck - Kenyan Tale

The continent of Africa is in a shape of a parrot and under its tail lies a country of Kenya. Kenya is home to Mount Kenya, which is the second highest mountain in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. South of Mount Kenya lives a tribe of Akamba. They are known for their exceptional woodcarving skills and story-telling. Here is one of the tales.

A very long time ago, the ostrich had a short neck. With his long legs and short neck, it was hard to catch insects on the ground or pick berries from high bushes or drink water from the river.

One morning, as ostrich bend his legs to drink some water, Crocodile swam down the river and asked for help whomever he met. This morning he woke up with a terrible toothache. Upon seeing Kudu, he stated, “I’ve been having a terrible toothache this morning. Would you be so kind as to pull it with one of your long twisted horns?”

Eagle, who circled above the river cried, “Don’t do it! He’ll eat you!” So Kudu ran away.

Farther down the river, Crocodile saw Baboon with a baby on her back, bending over the water’s edge. He swiftly approached them, but not too close so he wouldn’t scare them away. “I’ve been having a terrible toothache this morning. Would you be so kind as to pull it with your sharp claw?”

Eagle followed Crocodile and cried, “Don’t do it! He’ll eat you!” So mama Baboon ran off with her baby clinging to her.

Crocodile continued down the river and that’s when he met Ostrich, who was trying to get a sip of water. “I’ve been having a terrible toothache this morning. Would you be so kind as to pull it with your strong beak?”

Ostrich backed away, but upon seeing the crying Crocodile he froze not knowing which way to move.

Eagle in his quest to save whomever he could, followed Crocodile again and yelled, “Don’t do it! He’ll eat you!”

As Ostrich backed farther away, Crocodile cried harder and louder promising not to hurt Ostrich.

Ostrich took pity and peaked into Crocodile’s opened mouth asking, “Is this the one that hurts?” He would persist, “Is this the one?”

Each time, Crocodile said, “Uh-uh” Ostrich moved deeper and deeper into Crocodile’s mouth.

Suddenly, Crocodile remembered that this morning out of the pain he forgot about breakfast. He clamped the jaws down trapping Ostrich’s head.

“Let me out!” cried Ostrich.

Nearby, Elephant was bathing and heard the muffled voice of Ostrich. He lurched out of the water, grabbed Ostrich’s long legs with his trunk and pulled him in the opposite direction from Crocodile.

Elephant backed one step, another, but still there was no view of Ostrich’s head, instead Ostrich’s neck was getting longer and longer.

As Crocodile felt his tooth aching again, he abruptly opened his jaws, giving time for Ostrich to escape.

Ostrich ran away from Crocodile as far as possible. When he was far away from the river, he slowed down and realized that something was different. The ground seemed much farther away and he could reach it easily without bending his legs. The berries were right within his reach. “What was different?” he wondered.

At the same time Eagle circled above him, “Look at your long neck. I told you to stay away from Crocodile.”

Now Ostrich knew what was new. He didn’t like the encounter with Crocodile, but he certainly liked his new long neck. So since then, ostriches have stayed in the bush - away from the river and they all now have very long necks.

Source: How the Ostrich Got Its Long Neck by Verna Aardema