Zippy the Zebra: Learn English - Story for Children
English |
04m 51s
Zippy the Zebra, is totally bugged with fleas. Find out how Zippy gets rid of these fleas with the help of his new friends.
Symbiosis
By Urmila Ellappan
Zippy had walked a long distance
in the African savannah
to reach a small lake.
He eagerly quenched his thirst
and went to rest
under the cool shade
of a baobab tree.
Zippy tried to fall asleep,
but he felt uncomfortable
and very itchy.
For days,
there had been tiny fleas
all over his body.
He tried to get rid of the fleas
by swishing his tail
from side to side.
He tried to get rid of the fleas
by thumping his four legs
one by one on the ground.
He even tried thumping
all four legs at once!
He rubbed his whole body
against the tree trunk.
He tried to get rid of some fleas
by licking his face
with his long tongue.
But nothing seemed to work!
The fleas just wouldn’t go away!
No swishing or licking,
and no rubbing and thumping,
could make them leave him.
Finally,
he became so tired and irritated
that he rolled on the ground
with his feet up in the air.
He saw two little birds
perched on a branch
of the mighty baobab.
They made a lot of noise,
winked at each other
and darted down.
“Wow, that was something.
Are you O.K., Pick?”
“Sure, Peck, I’m fine!
Ehh- hi, I’m Pick!”
“And I am Peck, hi!”
With a sheepish smile,
Zippy got to his feet.
“Ahem, nice to meet you.
I am Zippy.”
“You have such deliciously
tempting fleas on you!”
Pick and Peck
settled down on Zippy’s back.
“Delicious?” groaned Zippy,
“I am totally bugged by them!
I just can’t get them off,
no matter how hard I try.”
“We are very hungry, Zippy,
and we love fleas.
May we eat up all these…
nasty creatures?”
asked Pick and Peck.
“Sure! Be my guests!”
exclaimed Zippy delighted.
The birds began.
They pecked at the fleas
on his face and legs,
they cleaned Zippy’s belly
and cleaned Zippy’s back.
The zebra stood still,
letting the birds eat their fill.
And finally, they were all happy.
The zebra had been freed
of the annoying fleas
and the two birds
had enjoyed a splendid meal.
“Thank you very much
for pecking those nasty fleas
off my body.”
“Oh! We must thank you,
for providing us
with such a flea meal –
free meal.”
Animals helping each other –
as Pick and Peck helped Zippy –
is called symbiosis.
Author: Urmila Ellapan
Illustrations: Emanuele Scanziani
Music: Holger Jetter
Animation: BookBox