A long, long time ago, long before the animals looked like they do today, the giraffe had a very short neck and short legs.
Giraffe did not look a lot different from the other bucks like a kudu or a springbuck.
It was summer time in the bush and was getting hotter and hotter and the water was drying up so fast. There was little water left in the waterholes and almost no grass or leaves on the trees and giraffe was getting very worried about where all of them would get water and food.
One day he ran into rhino at the waterhole and told him how concerned this situation made him. Rhino agreed that this was a problem because most of the animals ate all the grass and they had no idea when it would rain and where they will get more food.
Giraffe looked up at the trees and thought All these trees have such a lot of leaves left at the top. If only there was a way I could get to it.
Giraffe suddenly had a bright idea to solve the problem he and rhino had.
He remembered that the bush doctor was very clever and he was sure that the doctor would be able to help him and his friend rhino if he told him about his plan.
After he told the doctor of his plan to reach the leaves at the top of the tree, the doctor said "Come back tomorrow. I will give you and rhino some magic medicine. You have a great plan and if you and rhino's necks and legs grow longer, you will be able to reach the leaves at the top of the tree easily."
Giraffe could not wait for the next day and early the next morning he and rhino were back at the doctor's office and gets magic pills to drink.
Nothing happens, so he and rhino just walks back to the waterhole.
The doctor said it may take a few days and they will have to drink the pills a few times.
The next day rhino tells giraffe he is not going with to the doctor, because he found some green grass and rather want to eat than to go to the doctor.
Giraffe goes by himself and the doctor decides he is not going to waste the magic pills and give a double dosage to giraffe.
It goes on like this for 3 days and every day rhino is busy with something else and giraffe gets to drink double of the magic pills.
After 4 days the pills are finished and the doctor tells giraffe that he cannot make any more, so if it does not work, giraffe will just have to accept it.
The next day while giraffe is out looking for food he suddenly feels a strange tingling in his legs and neck and the next moment it just started growing.
Giraffe gets taller and taller until he can reach the top of the tree and eat the nice leaves that were there.
When rhino came around the corner he could not believe his eyes. He was very happy for his friend, because rhino understood that giraffe did go through all the trouble every day to walk a far way to get the magic pills.
Giraffe was a kind animal and he started picking the leaves from the trees and threw it on the ground, so that all the other animal could also eat from the lovely fresh leaves.
This is how giraffe got his long neck and legs and why none of the other animals are jealous of him, because he did not only think of himself, but he also helped them to get food.
It also started raining and soon the grass was green again and there was enough grass for everyone to eat.
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