12
H
ussein's mother took him to the zoo one week-end. It was the first
time he had seen so many different animals in one place. They went
to the elephant house. A young elephant was tripping over his trunk and
falling down, and the baby's mother came to his help every time he did
so.
The mother elephant saw Hussein looking at them and ex-
plained: "You see, my baby is so young, he doesn't
know how to use his trunk yet. He will not leave
my side for 12 full years, and for the first six
months I will teach him to use his trunk
properly."
Hussein answered: "I have always
wondered what do elephants use their
trunks for? Do you breathe through them?"
The mother elephant told him: "It is our trunks that make us different
from all other animals. Our nostrils are at the end of our trunks, and we
use them to carry food and water to our mouths, pick things up and to
smell things with; we can hold up to 1 gallon (four liters) of water in them.
And did you know, we can pick even up a tiny pea with them? We did-
n't acquire our trunks by chance. They are a gift from the mercy of
Almighty Allah, Who created everything."
Hussein then enquired, "How do you manage to find
enough to eat?"
The mother elephant explained: "We are the
biggest animals on Earth. An elephant eats about 730
pounds (330 kilos) of plants every day. We have to
spend 16 hours a day eating."
Hussein thought of another question, "What
about your teeth?"
