The legend of the hummingbird

One day a great fire broke out in the forest. As the flames advanced, all the animals fled in terror while the fire destroyed everything without mercy.

Lions, zebras, elephants, rhinoceroses, gazelles and many other animals took refuge in the waters of the great river, but by now the fire was about to reach them there too.

While they were all arguing heatedly about what to do, a tiny hummingbird dived into the river and, having taken a drop of water in its beak, heedless of the great heat, let it fall over the smoke-filled forest. The fire did not even notice and raced on, driven by the wind.

The hummingbird, however, did not lose heart and kept diving to gather, each time, one small drop of water to let fall on the flames.

This did not go unnoticed and at a certain point the lion called it over and asked: «What are you doing?». The little bird replied: «I am trying to put out the fire!».

The lion burst out laughing: «You, so small, mean to stop the flames?» and together with all the other animals began to mock it. But the little bird, heedless of the laughter and the criticism, threw itself into the river once more to gather another drop of water.

Seeing this, a little elephant that until then had stayed sheltered between its mother’s legs plunged its trunk into the river and, having drawn up as much water as it could, sprayed it over a bush that the fire was about to devour.

A young pelican too left its parents in the middle of the river, filled its great beak with water and, taking flight, let it fall like a waterfall over a tree threatened by the flames.

Moved by those examples, all the young animals worked together to put out the fire, which had by now reached the banks of the river.

Forgetting old grudges and age-old divisions, the cubs of the lion and of the antelope, of the monkey and the leopard, of the white-necked eagle and of the hare fought side by side to halt the advance of the fire.

At that sight the adults stopped mocking them and, filled with shame, began to help their young. With fresh forces well organised by the lion king, by the time the evening shadows fell over the savannah the fire could be said to be under control.

Dirty and exhausted, but safe, all the animals gathered to celebrate together their victory over the fire.

The lion called the little hummingbird and said: «Today we have learned that the most important thing is not to be big and strong, but to be full of courage and generosity. Today you have taught us that even a drop of water can matter and that together a great fire can be put out. From now on you will be the symbol of our commitment to building a better world, where there is room for everyone, violence is banished, the word war erased, and death from hunger only a bad memory».