Speaker 1: Yo. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,
where you suggest the animal for us to write a
story about. My name's Josephine and I've got a brand
new animal story here just for you. There are now
over one hundred extra stories on the Animal Tales premium service.
Find out how to listen to them by visiting Animaltales
dot uk and remember, for a tiny fee, they're all
advert free. Archie is from Kenya and he would like
a story with a mountain bongo and a mongoose. You
can learn more about these creatures in the Animal Facts
after the story. Now, settle back, relax, and I'll begin
Bongo and mongo. Archie had never walked so far in
his life. The mongoose had been fed up with dodging
packs of hyaenas and lions, not to mention leopards popping
out of nowhere and eagle circling above. Archie had to
be constantly on the lookout for danger. Then, one day,
while gazing at the distant mountains, the mongoose had decided
that he was going to try living there instead. It
had been a long and tiring journey. At one point
in the foothills of the mountain. He'd foolishly hurt his ankle,
making the last few hours even more difficult. But now
high in the mountains, Archie was ready to rest. Rain
had begun to fall, so finding shelter was the mongoose's
first priority. Unfortunately, the few places he had searched already
had a creature cowering there from the weather. Archie ended
up huddled beneath a tree, rain drops dripping on his
head from the leaves above. It would have to do.
He curled into a tight ball and did his best
to sleep. When Archie awoke, the sun had risen for
a new day, with the rain long since passed. His
muscles still ached, his stomach growled, and his ankle continued
to throb, but at least he was rested. The mongoose
looked about him and realized he'd stopped in a particularly
attractive spot, just right for making his new home. There
were no end of trees, a swift moving stream, and
a good choice of large rocks ideal for sunbathing on.
But sunbathing would have to wait. His stomach was complaining,
so Archie decided to look for food. He sniffed the air,
catching the unmistakable scent of delicious dates. It didn't take
him long to find them. The fresh ripe fruit hanging
from the branches of a tree. Archie's mouth was already watering.
He began to climb, digging his claws into the bark,
but almost immediately his injured ankle stopped him from going
any further. It was just too painful. Carefully, he returned
to the ground where he sat and rubbed his ankle.
Now what do I do, he said to himself. Can
I help? Asked a large striped antelope, poking her head
and long horns around the tree. I was just hoping
to get some breakfast, said Archie, getting back to his feet.
But I'll manage. Don't let me trouble you if you're sure,
said the antelope, as Archie attempted to climb again. He
grunted as he tried to climb the trunk, but his
ankle just wouldn't support him in achieving his goal. It
really does look like you're having trouble there, said the antelope.
I'm fine, Archie insisted, I don't need any help. The
antelope cocked her head to one side, looking unsure. Suit yourself,
she said, I'll be right over there if you change
your mind. She walked a few paces away to graze
on the grass, leaving Archie to turn attention back to
the tree. He was a very independent mongoose and did
his best to manage situations by himself. He was sure
he could work this problem out if he thought about it.
A long stick caught his eye, so he plucked it
up and tried poking at the lowest hanging dates. It
was no good. He was a little too short to reach.
I'm Becky, by the way, the antelope announced, I'm a
mountain bongo. We're quite rare. If you didn't know that,
I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't met a mountain
bongo before. Archie was trying to concentrate, standing on his
tippy toes as he swiped at the nearest date. I
only mentioned that in case you were worried about asking
a stranger for help. Becky, the mountain bongo, continued, cheerfully.
You see now we're not strangers. By now, Archie had
decided to throw the stick in an attempt to knock
dates free. This instantly back fired when the stick got
caught amongst the leaves, Failing to come back down. Whoops,
said the mountain bongo. Not a problem, said Archie quickly.
I can do this myself, although in all honesty he
was wondering exactly how you know? If you hit the
trunk with your head in just the right spot, it
usually makes a few dates fall off, Becky said, appearing
beside him. Archie frowned. He had politely said that he
didn't need help, but here was the mountain Bongo trying
to help him again, although if he hit the trunk
he'd still be doing the work himself. Okay, said Archie.
I'll give it a try. He gave the trees trunk
a bump with his head, but all it did was
make him feel so dizzy that he had to sit down.
Spotting her chance, Becky swung her heavy horned head sideways,
thumping the wood. Three fat dates came toppling down. You're
a natural, Becky said, as Archie rubbed his skull. Oh yeah,
he replied happily, as he spied the fallen dates. It worked.
He picked up a date with each hand and started
to eat. I'm Archie, he said, after the first swallow.
I'm a mongoose. Oh a mongo said Becky delighted. How wonderful. No, no,
said Archie. That's mongoose. Yes, a mongoe the mountain bongo,
repeated mong goose, said Archie slowly. I'm pretty sure we're
saying the same thing, said Becky with a smile. Archie
gave up. It hardly mattered what she said, as he
probably wouldn't ever see her again. Look, I've got to go,
lots to do, he said, as he tucked into the
last date. Um, nice to meet you, You too, mungo,
Becky replied, And please, if you need anything, anything at all,
don't be afraid to ask. Archie wandered away, shaking his head.
There she goes, offering him help again. He'd live this
long without any one giving him help before, so why
would he need to ask for help. Now? Finding the
spot where he'd spent the night, Archie decided to dig
a burrow. If he was going to stay, he'd need
somewhere proper to sleep. But it was hard work. The
ground was full of rock and stone, while Archie's twisted
at uncle wasn't making the task any easier. After just
an hour, he'd made a hole just big enough to
fit his head in. Is everything all right there, mongo,
asked Becky from near by. It was the second time
the mountain bongo had got close without him hearing her.
How could an animal so big move so quietly? All good,
thank you, he replied, Just digging, you small mammals and
your holes, grinned Becky. Us mountain bongoes don't live in burrows.
It would take us forever to dig one big enough.
Archy smirked at the thought of it, but was determined
to press on. You know, said Becky, there's a rock
hier axe who lives near here. I'm sure he wouldn't
mind coming over to give you a hand with your hole. No,
thank you, I don't need help, said Archie quickly. I'm
quite capable of digging my own hole. I know what
I'm doing. I'm not saying you don't, said Becky gently.
It's just that sometimes a little help can be well helpful.
No thanks, insisted the mongoose. I can do this fine
on my own, very well, mongo. Becky shrugged, But do hurry,
there's more rain on the way. Archie didn't want another
damp night beneath the tree, so he dug and dug
and dug until his paws were caked in dirt. By
the time the rain started. He had a hole just
big enough to squeeze inside. Although the tip of his
tail poked out. At least he could say that he
dug it all by himself. Worn Out by his labors,
the mongoose was soon fast asleep. Waking later than normal,
Archie unfolded from his simple hole and stretched. It was
another glorious morning and time for breakfast. But he'd only
gone a handful of steps when, to his surprise, he
almost fell into another burrow. It looked really nice and
would be the perfect size for a mongoose. Strangely, when
he sniffed around, the burrow didn't appear to be lived in.
Wriggling inside, Archie found the burrow to be cozy and warm.
It would be ideal for him. But did it matter
that he hadn't dug it himself. No, he convinced himself.
Finding a nice abandoned burrow was still good work on
his part. Satisfied with his new home, Archie went in
search of food. Perhaps some termites or a bird egg,
or even a fat juicy were more two. He was
nosed deep in a pile of leaves when a twig
snapped behind him. He just knew it was that mountain
bongo again, trying to sneak up on him. Well not
this time. I told you I don't need any help,
he announced as he lifted his head from the leaves.
But it wasn't the kind eyes of the bongo. This
time it was the toothy grin of a hungry jackal.
What's this, smiled the jackal? Dinner? Archie didn't hang about.
He ran for it, the jackal giving chase. Normally, Archie's
sighs and speed allowed him to give a predator the slip,
but that was when he didn't have a twisted ankle.
The mongoose wasn't nearly as fast as he hobbled along,
meaning Archie was in terrible danger. He could hear the
jackal's thumping footsteps and feel its hot, panting breath on
his back. Surely this time he was done for A
gap at the base of a tree offered him a chance.
He leapt, just as something flew over his head to
collide with his pursuer in a noisy collision. Poking his
head out from under the roots, Archie could see Becky,
the mountain bongo, stood over the sprawling jackal. Maybe I
should give you a close up look of my spiraling horns,
she threatened. I I rather not, whimpered the jackal. She
allowed it to crawl out from under her, where it
sprinted away with its tail between its legs. I really
didn't need your help, Archie insisted. See I'd have been
quite safe beneath these tree roots. But he did almost
catch you, pointed out Becky. You could hardly run, but
I did escape, said Archie, determined to show that he'd
coped by himself. I really didn't need your help, mongo.
You are a funny creature, said Becky with a smile.
Just because you don't want help doesn't mean you don't
need it. Archie sagged his shoulders. I know, he sighed.
It's just that I've always had to look after myself.
Us mountain Bongoes help one another all the time, Becky explained.
We care for one another when we're sick, and we
scratch each other's backs when we can't quite reach. Don't
you want that kind of help too? Archie had to
think about this as he limped out of his hiding place.
I've never had anyone I could rely on like that,
he said. A mongoose has to get by on their own.
There's never been any one to help me. All I'm saying,
Becky said softly, is that it's nice to be independent,
but if you're going to live here in the mountains,
it doesn't have to be alone. Archie nodded. The bongo
was right. My foot really hurts after that running, he said,
Would you mind carrying me home? I'd love to, said Becky.
Hop On, Can I ask you a question, asked Archie
from the bongo's back. Of course, she replied, what is it?
A burrow? Just perfect for a mongoose seems to have
appeared overnight, right next to where I was digging. Did
you and your rock hiax friend have anything to do
with that, wondered the mongoose, maybe, grinned Becky. You're not
mad with me, are you? Mongo No, said Archie and
realized he really meant it. I really appreciate it. Animals
fat mongoose species are found throughout Central and southern Africa,
southern Europe, and southern Asia. Most mongoose species are solitary animals,
although some can live in groups. Mountain bongoes have a
reddish brown coat of hair with thin white stripes running
along their backs. They are the third largest antelers on
the planet. Bongos can live in groups of around eight individuals,
although males often keep to themselves. They are active from
dusk until dawn, preferring to sleep during the day. Thank
you for your suggestions, Archie. We hope that you all
enjoyed the story. Wherever you're listening in the world, don't
forget to look at our animal Tales books. Discover them
all at animaltales dot uk. Great bedtime reading, especially if
you've discovered the joy of reading for yourself. Make sure
you join us next time for another great animal tale. Goodbye,