How the Giraffe Got Its Long Neck and Splotches

Long ago, the giraffe had no horns, and his neck was short, like that of a horse. But most unusual, his body was not covered in brown splotches. Instead, he had magnificent blue stripes and dots, which he loved to brag about at watering holes.

“I’m the most beautiful creature in the savanna!” Giraffe would say proudly, strutting around the other animals who were getting a drink. This would happen so often that eventually all the other animals stayed well away from him. Occasionally someone would warn him to change his ways, but Giraffe was careless and took no heed.

One especially hot day, Giraffe was looking for a place to cool off, such as a pool of water or even some squishy mud. Every now and then he found a puddle and lifted his head high, proud at the sight of his reflection. Each time he stopped to gaze at himself, he lifted his head higher and higher, and his neck grew longer and longer, until it was shockingly tall. But Giraffe was too busy admiring himself to notice.

Eventually, he heard giggling around him and stopped to look around. “What’s so funny?” Giraffe asked indignantly as he looked down at the merry animals around him. Why would anyone laugh at him?

“It’s your neck, Giraffe! It looks ridiculous!” they laughed.

“Hmph! My neck is quite all right,” said Giraffe, though he wasn’t so sure as he walked away. Soon enough, he crashed into a tall tree as he trotted along, falling headfirst into a huge mud puddle below and splashing the grass all around.

As he clambered out and looked down at his reflection, Giraffe almost fell in again. He realized that he had a very long neck and two bumps, like horns, where he hit his head, and his lovely spots and stripes were gone, covered in splotches of mud.

Ashamed, Giraffe ran all the way home and was never pompous or arrogant ever again. But the splotches and long neck remained ever since, and you can see them when you visit a giraffe at the zoo.