The Monkey and the Lion

Once upon a time, deep in the heart of the jungle, lived a powerful lion named Shera. He was known as the king of the jungle—not just because of his strength, but also because of his loud roar that echoed through the forest every morning. All the animals respected him, some even feared him. He ruled with authority, but he was also proud and sometimes unkind.

Not far from Shera’s cave, lived a clever monkey named Bantu. Bantu was small in size, but his mind was sharp. He swung from tree to tree, played tricks, and often helped the other animals solve their problems. While Shera believed that strength was everything, Bantu believed that brains could conquer even the mightiest of beasts.

One hot summer day, there was a shortage of water in the jungle. The rivers had dried up, and the small ponds were vanishing. The animals were worried. They gathered near the old baobab tree for a meeting.

“We need to find water soon,” said the elephant, Dholu.

“Or else many of us will fall sick or worse,” added the deer, Chikki.

Shera arrived late, as usual, and roared, “I am the king! I will find water for all of you. Trust my power!”

But Bantu raised his tiny hand, “Shera, strength is good, but we need a smart plan. Let us first search the jungle together and make a map of all the water sources. Then we can dig and build a shared water hole.”

Shera frowned. “I don’t need maps or plans. I will follow my nose and find water myself!”

The next day, Shera left early, walking miles in the scorching heat. He growled and sniffed and dug in dry places, but he found nothing. His paws hurt, and the sun burned his back.

Meanwhile, Bantu and a group of smaller animals worked together. Bantu remembered a wise old turtle who had once told him that under a certain rocky hill, water always remained underground. He led the animals there.

Using sticks and stones, they dug the ground. It took hours of effort, but finally, water started to rise. The animals cheered with joy. Bantu’s plan had worked!

When Shera returned, he was tired, thirsty, and shocked to see the animals celebrating around a fresh, clean water hole.

“Where did this come from?” he roared.

“We made it together,” said Bantu. “With planning, teamwork, and some good thinking.”

Shera’s pride was hurt. He turned away angrily and went back to his cave.

Days passed. The animals began to admire Bantu more and more. Shera watched from a distance. He realized that the jungle was changing. It was no longer just about who was strongest—it was about who could lead wisely.

One evening, a loud cry echoed through the jungle. A young zebra had fallen into a deep pit and was unable to climb out. The animals gathered around, panicked. The pit was too deep for them to help.

Shera arrived and looked inside. The zebra was injured and crying.

“I will jump in and bring him out,” Shera said with pride.

“No!” shouted Bantu. “If you jump in, you might hurt the zebra more—or get stuck yourself.”

“Then what do we do?” asked Shera, confused.

Bantu smiled and pointed to some vines hanging from a tree. “We’ll tie these together, lower them into the pit, and pull him out gently.”

The animals quickly followed Bantu’s instructions. With Shera’s strength and the teamwork of all, they managed to rescue the zebra safely.

Shera was amazed. He walked up to Bantu and said, “Today, you saved a life not with muscles—but with your mind. You were right, Bantu. A king must not only be strong… he must also be wise.”

Bantu smiled. “And a wise king listens to others.”

From that day on, Shera changed. He started consulting Bantu and other animals before making decisions. The jungle became a peaceful place where all creatures worked together.

And so, the lion and the monkey—once so different—became the best of friends. One with strength, the other with wit. Together, they ruled the jungle not with fear, but with fairness.

Moral of the Story:

True leadership is not just about strength—it’s about wisdom, humility, and the ability to listen to others.