How the Leopard Got His Spots

Long ago, the Leopard was plain yellow. All over. Not a spot in sight.

He hunted with his friend the Hunter, on the golden Veldt. The Veldt was yellow too, and so was the Zebra, and so was the Giraffe. So the Leopard could hide easily and catch his dinner.

But the animals got tired of being caught. So they went away to a forest where the shadows made stripy patterns everywhere.

Zebra hid in the shadows. His grey fur got stripy — like the shadows.

Giraffe hid in the shadows too. His fur got blotchy — like the leaves and light.

Now the Leopard could not see them. He would smell them. He would hear them. But he could not see them.

He was hungry.

He asked the Wise Baboon, 'Where are all the animals?'

'They've gone into spots and stripes,' said the Baboon. 'You should too.'

'How?' said the Leopard.

His friend the Hunter said, 'I'll help.' He dipped his fingers in dark paint. And he pressed five fingers, one, two, three, four, five, all over the Leopard's yellow fur.

Spots! Beautiful, dark, round spots!

And now the Leopard could hide in the shadows too.

That is why every leopard, to this very day, has spots. Right where the Hunter's fingers put them.