The Foolish Hunt: When the Lion and Leopard Were Outsmarted

The Foolish Hunt of the King of the Jungle

BY:Ubaid

On the edge of a crystal-clear spring, beneath the shadow of a great boulder and hidden by thick bushes, the king of the jungle—the mighty lion—rested in silence. His sharp golden eyes scanned the horizon, and suddenly they caught sight of something moving far across the lush, green fields of ripening rice.

He rubbed his eyes with his heavy paws, squinting to make sure his vision was not betraying him. No, there was no mistake. The movement belonged to a blackbuck grazing lazily beneath the shade of a distant tree.

The lion’s stomach had been growling all night with hunger, and the mere thought of the blackbuck’s tender flesh made his mouth water. His whiskers twitched as he licked his jaws. With the expertise of a master hunter, he lowered his head, flattened his body, and began to move forward stealthily, using the thick undergrowth as cover.

But the lion was not the only predator whose eyes were fixed on the innocent grazer.

In a nearby thicket of bamboo, another pair of eyes gleamed—a leopard, equally famished, had already chosen the same prey. His stomach too felt like it was crawling with mice, gnawing with hunger. The leopard crouched lower, muscles tensed, ready to pounce.

The blackbuck, however, was blissfully unaware of the dangers approaching from both sides. It nibbled gently at the soft green grass, chewing calmly. Every now and then, it lifted its almond-shaped eyes, glanced around the fields, and then bent its neck again to feed.

But animals often sense danger before it strikes. A strange uneasiness began to stir within the blackbuck. Its nose twitched as it sniffed the air. The scent of predators lingered faintly. Its ears stood erect, and its slender neck turned toward the stream where, in the open meadow, two bear cubs were playing noisily. The sight distracted it for a moment, but the uneasiness did not fade.

Before the blackbuck could decide to run toward the safety of the hills, chaos erupted. From the east, the lion leaped out of the bushes like a golden flash of thunder. From the south, the leopard sprang forward like an arrow released from a bow.

The startled blackbuck bolted, bounding in long, graceful leaps toward the mountains.

The lion and the leopard gave chase with all their strength. The lion’s massive muscles propelled him forward with terrifying power, and the leopard’s agile body slashed through the grass at lightning speed. But the blackbuck, though lighter and smaller, had the gift of nimbleness. Its slender frame twisted and turned, dodging and deceiving its hunters at every step.

For miles the chase went on, stirring up dust, echoing roars, and pounding hoofbeats. Eventually, the blackbuck scrambled up onto a high rock ledge. The cliff was too steep for either the lion or the leopard to climb. Exhausted, both predators collapsed at the bottom, panting heavily, tongues lolling out.

The lion recovered first and growled in frustration.
“This prey is mine,” he roared. “I saw it first. I had my eye on it long before you.”

The leopard bared his teeth and snarled back.
“You may call yourself the king of the jungle, but this is the wild, not a human kingdom where kings do as they please. Every creature here fights for its own rights. And this blackbuck is mine!”

The lion’s mane bristled as he thundered:
“Beast or man—it is always the same. The law of the world is simple: might is right. I am stronger than you, and therefore the blackbuck belongs to me.”

While they quarreled, the blackbuck sighed in relief and spoke up mockingly from atop the rock:
“My noble lords! It would be my honor to serve as the meal of such royal predators. But before you devour me, kindly resolve your dispute. Decide fairly who among you deserves the privilege of feasting on my flesh.”

The lion and the leopard turned back to their argument, voices rising. Just then, along the path, a donkey happened to wander by. Seizing the opportunity, the blackbuck shouted down:
“Perhaps, respected hunters, this wise donkey can help settle your disagreement. After all, one need not be intelligent to offer advice.”

The lion sneered but agreed. “Very well. Even a fool’s counsel may serve in times of need. We shall hear the donkey.”

The leopard snapped his jaws and barked at the donkey:
“Hey, long ears! Come here quickly.”

At first, the donkey trembled in fear, thinking they might eat him instead. But curiosity and the desire to be useful got the better of him. He crept forward, forcing a nervous grin, and listened as they explained their problem.

To his own surprise, the donkey felt delighted. This was his moment to sound clever. He brayed loudly and declared:
“So, Lion, you claim you spotted the blackbuck first. And Leopard, you claim your hunger reached him first. Since there are no witnesses, here is my suggestion: both of you return to your starting places. I shall bray as loud as I can. The moment you hear my voice, you both race back. Whoever arrives here first shall rightfully claim the prize.”

Both lion and leopard, swollen with pride in their speed, agreed eagerly. Their stomachs rumbled, but their confidence in their strength blinded them. They returned to their positions, while the blackbuck prepared himself “to descend and bathe,” as agreed.

Minutes passed. Then many more. But the donkey never brayed.

Growing suspicious, the lion and the leopard exchanged angry glares and suddenly dashed back toward the rock. But when they arrived, they found nothing.

The ledge was empty. The blackbuck had vanished into the wilderness. And the donkey—he too was gone, disappeared without a trace.

The lion roared in fury, shaking the earth.
“That fool of a donkey has tricked us!”

The leopard lowered his head and sighed.
“No, Lion. The real fools are not the donkey or the blackbuck. The real fools are you and I.”