After three days of rest in my new residence, I decided to venture into the woods. I glanced at the devastated scenery; deliberate land degradation was evident everywhere. Badda-uu-uu had disappeared, dhasheegii Aaminow was nowhere to be seen and extinct. I got worried and dumbstruck.
Then a surprise event evolved immediately. I realized that the hot, burning tropical sun of Africa had instantaneously transformed into a cool, Shangri-La. What shaded me from the tropical blaze was an artificial phenomenon. Multitudes of Leptoptilos crumenifus were hovering overhead.
Minutes later, only one landed nearby then walked towards where I was standing. At first, I felt startled. "Don't worry Makina. I'm your old friend, Baamboow Cantallaa', he whispered from a distance. Within minutes, I felt at ease. As he got closer, we both started weeping. He hugged me and I could feel the soft touch of his natural, golden tie. Baamboow, how are you doing? "I'm a bit heartbroken Makina for man has been unjust to us for the years you were away", he cried ceaselessly. I wiped the rolling tears from his eyes and kissed him on both cheeks.
Strange though, I could see various wild animals and every Aves species trooping towards my direction. What caught my sight was Struthio camelus molypdophanes---the world's largest, flightless, and the most beautiful bird on earth. It was an ostrich or Goroyo. Without mincing words, I roared at her like an agitated Leo panthera (lion), saying "Goroyooy gabbalkaa dhac", with the intention of teasing her. She burst into laughter, wrapped her feathery plumes round my entire body such that I resembled as if I wearing silken regalia. Like lovers in romantic act, the prudent and talkative Goroyo opened her mouth wide enough, then licked my cheeks. Then we shook hands and thereafter she broke into a ceremonial dance that was intended to welcome me into the broken habitat.
After Goroyo stood aside to give me the chance to welcome everyone, a stinking, carcass-eating hermaphrodite who introduced himself as Crocuta crocuta (hyena), extended his/her hand to me. After shaking hands as a gesture of goodwill, I asked him/her if he/she ever brushed his/her visible rotten teeth. "I haven't been to a Dentist for the years you were away", he/she responded with anger splashed on his face. "The dental beauty of our species depends on feeding and since we have nothing to eat, we've suffered immense tooth decay", was his/her response.Unfortunately, Mr. Makina, like humans, we don't brush with Salvadora persica (caday). To avoid our teeth stick together, when sleeping, we do place one of our front legs in our mouths.
Then I turned my attention to a group of the towering Giraffa Camelopardalis reticulata (giraffe). After shaking hands with each one, I asked them what reduced their original gigantic shapes into such decrying infirmity. They claimed their environmental sanctity had been violated unjustly by callous humans who were working in cahoot with greedy businessmen. Looking around my sides, many of the Acacia sp. like Acacia bussei, Acacia albida, Acacia senegal, and other perennial trees have become extinct because of deforestation. To add insult to injury, the giraffes spoke alien languages that were distinct from the previous ones I was accustomed to. It was mind-boggling to me that many spoke different accents that I could not comprehend. Some spoke the Maay language, others in Afaan Booraan, Aweer or Booni, and the accents of Ethiopia, and Somaliland. On inquiring the cause of their geo-linguistic differences, they claimed they were refugees from Somalia who were uprooted from their original habitats by war. I sensed some suffered from Buufis, and given the chance they would have opted for migration to the West. A young calf who was crying uncontrollably, asked me to intervene and find them a better place.
Even though time was running out for me, there was no way I could depart without paying homage to my dear friend Loxodonta africana (elephant). The elephant, named after Surah Fil (Chapter 105) of the Qur'an, the Meccan Surah, reminded me of Abraha al-Ashram's invasion of the Kaaba. The Surah is in Juz 30, has 5 verses, 23 words and contains 96 letters. Of the 13 elephants, one named Mohamoud and who is in paradise, refused to partake in the destructive adventure. Since elephants deserve better respect, I greeted them with Asalaamu Caleykum. After a brief discussion, I left them with the humorous saying, "libaaxii Alamtarana soo dhaaf." With blasts of laughter, each one waved me goodbye.
