Down At The Waterhole

Down at the waterhole, the animals of the grasslands come to drink. 
Written especially for this podcast by Simon. 

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Episode Transcript

(00:12):
Hey Yale. Hello, I'm Josephineand this is the Animal Tales Podcast.
Join us every Monday, Wednesday andFriday for news stories written just for you.
They're ideal for car journeys and bedtime, and with our premium subscription,
everything is advert free and there areextra stories too from Texas U s A.

(00:36):
We've had a request from Eli,Carson and Harley. They'd like a
story with an elephant, a crocodile, and a hippo. Don't forget to
listen for some animal facts about thesecreatures after the story. For now,
it's time to sit back and getcomfy, because it's time to begin.

(00:57):
Down at the water hole. Downat the water hole, the last of
the dark clouds were drifting away,and the sun was daring to shine.
The water hole was wide and deepafter the rains, so there was plenty
of room for the creatures of thegrass lands to come to drink. The

(01:18):
water hole had spread out so farthat it had flooded the freshly green shoots
that had erupted from the dry earth, and it was here beyond its edge
that Eli, the enormous elephant,strode, flapping his large ears to make
himself look bigger still and waving histrunk back and forth, Eli stomped through

(01:41):
the grass, looking big and important. You there, he snorted at a
small herd of cape buffalo. Thisis my water hole, so listen carefully.
You can have a quick drink andthen that's it. Off you go,
Do you understand? The leader ofthe cape buffalo looked up at the

(02:02):
big, powerful elephant. It wasn'tan animal he wanted to mess with.
O k, he replied meekly.Just one quick drink then yes, we'll
be on our way. You justsee that, you do, warned Eli.
Then he was off, racing tosay much the same to an approaching

(02:23):
mongoose. Meanwhile, on the otherside of the water hole, submerged in
the shallows swam Carson, a colossalcrocodile. He wasn't in a hurry,
but equally he wasn't about to letany animals get comfortable either. Oi you,

(02:44):
he snapped at a tall maraboo stalkknee deep in the water. This
is my water hole, so I'monly telling you once. You can stay
for one minute and then that's it. Not a second longer, otherwise I'll
be filling my belly. The maraboostalk hadn't noticed Carson until he'd spoken,

(03:07):
and she was visibly shaken to beso close to the giant reptile. Don't
you worry about me, she said, with a quivering voice. In fact,
I was just leaving now, goodsneered Carson, and then went to
have words with a honey badger thatlooked like it was having a bath.

(03:28):
While all this was going on,in the center of the water hole floated
Harley, a humongous hippopotamus other thanher ears that occasionally flicked away a fly.
She appeared to be asleep. Listenup, Harley said, suddenly opening
an eye to glare at a whitefaced duck that was swimming by. This

(03:50):
is my water hole, ducky,and you've disturbed my nap. But I'm
in a good mood, so aslong as you're gone. When I next
opened my eyes, I won't squashyou flat. The white faced duck didn't
want to become duck pancake. Terriblysorry, he whimpered, paddling away quickly.

(04:12):
There's a good ducky, said Harley, and returned to her snoozing.
Days later, down at the waterhole, the hot sun continued to shine,
while the storm clouds had become adistant memory. The edges of the
water hole had been churned up intoa muddy, sticky mess, flattening the

(04:33):
grass all the way around. Muchof this was down to Eli, the
enormous elephant, as he continued tomarch and stamp and throw his weight around.
You there, he snorted at aprickly porcupine, This is my water
hole, so listen carefully. Thewater's already going down, what with all

(04:56):
you thirsty mouths slurping it up.So now it's just one quick sip,
then off you go, do youunderstand? The prickly porcupine was clearly surprised
to be told this. But there'sstill plenty of water, she said,
and it's hot. Surely you canspare more than just a sip. No,

(05:18):
insisted Eli. One sip and that'sit or else. Then he was
off, racing to say much thesame to a family of chackmar baboons.
Meanwhile, on the other side ofthe water hole submerged in the shallows swam
Carson the colossal crocodile, and hewas getting quite fed up. WI you,

(05:43):
He snapped at a tall giraffe andcalled deep in the water. This
is my water hole, so I'monly telling you once. You can stay
for thirty seconds and then that's it. Not a second longer, otherwise I'll
be filling my belly. The giraffehadn't noticed Carson until he'd spoken, thinking

(06:03):
he was a submerged log. Thirtyseconds, she said, that's not very
long. I've only just got here. Looks like my belly's getting filled.
Then, said Carson, showing histeeth, which was enough to send the
giraffe trotting for dry land. Butthere was no time for the crocodile to

(06:26):
rest. A zebra was washing hishoofs near by, so off Carson went
to have a word. While allthis was going on, in the center
of the water hole floated Harley,the humongous hippopotamus. She was still trying
to get some sleep. Listen up, Harley said, suddenly opening both eyes

(06:48):
to stare at a pan hinged terrapinthat was swimming by. This is my
water hole, Shelley, and you'rethe latest annoyance to disturb my nap.
But I'm in a bad mood,so as long as you get out of
here right now, I won't squashyou flat. The pan hinged terrapin had

(07:09):
never been spoken to so rudely.I don't think I want to stay here
anyway, she said, and swamout of reach. Bah groaned Harley and
returned to her nap. More dayspassed down at the water hole, and
the hot sun continued to hammer theyellowing grass. The edges of the water

(07:32):
hole had shrunk considerably, leaving adry, cracked, dusty surface behind Eli.
The enormous elephant was feeling hot andbothered as he battled to keep the
animals away. You there, hesnorted at a round bellied rhinoceros. This

(07:53):
is my water hole, so listencarefully. The water's gone down far too
fast, but with all you thirstymouths gulping it up, so I'm afraid
there's nothing left for you. Doyou understand? The round bellied rhinoceros was
most upset to be told this.But there's still lots left, he said,

(08:13):
gesturing with his horn. It's reallyhot, you know, and I
need a drink, I said,no, shouted Eli, waving his trunk
and stamping his foot. Even thoughhe was large, the rhinoceros was no
match for an enormous elephant, soquite miserably, he turned and left,

(08:37):
but there was no rest for Eli. A spotted hyaena was getting close,
so off Eli marched to turn itaway. Meanwhile, not too far away,
on the other side of the waterhole, crawled Carson, the colossal
crocodile through the muddy shallows, andhe'd had enough OI you. He snapped

(09:00):
at a black stalk toes deep inthe water. This is my water hole,
so I'm only telling you once clearoff now, otherwise I'll be filling
my belly. The black stork hadseen Carsson easily due to the water hole
being so shallow. Now, ooh, aren't you a grumpy reptile? He

(09:22):
said, I don't think I wantto stay here anyway. The black stork
opened his wings and took to thesky, leaving Carson to deal with the
next unwonted intruder, an Ostrich havinga paddle. While all this was going
on, in the center of thewater hole sat Harley, the humongous hippopotamus.

(09:45):
She was still trying to get somesleep. Listen up, Harley said
sharply, as a martial eagle landedon her back. This is my water
hole. Berdie and you're one ofa long line of creatures that given me
grief. I'm in a foul mood, not least because there's not enough water

(10:05):
left to float in, So Isuggest you get out of here right now
before I squash you flat. Themartial eagle was surprised that the muddy rock
he'd landed on could speak. Iwasn't planning on staying anyway, she said,
This water's all a bit muddy andmurky for me. Then good riddance,

(10:26):
grumbled Harley, and tried to returnto her nap. Yet more days
passed down at the water hole,and the sun's heat was proving almost unbearable.
The water hole had shrunk by somuch that no animals bothered coming there
to drink any more, leaving justthree. You two, snorted Eli the

(10:50):
enormous elephant. This is my waterhole, so listen carefully. I'll not
have you two stealing the last ofmy water. So be off with you,
scarper off you go. Do youunderstand, Oi, snapped Carson the
colossal crocodile. I think you'll findthat this is my water hole, so

(11:13):
I'm only telling you to once clearoff now, otherwise I'll be filling my
belly with the both of you.This sen up, Harley, the humongous
hippopotamus, said, her voice strainingto contain its anger. This is in
fact my water hole, you pairof blithering buffoons. I'm in such a

(11:35):
dreadful mood that I'm quite prepared tosquash you both flat unless you buzz off
immediately. Well, I'm not goinganywhere, said Eli. This is my
water hole, and I'm not goinganywhere, said Carson. This is my

(11:56):
water hole. I'm not going anywhereeither, added Harley, because this is
my water hole, except it wasn'tmuch of a water hole any longer,
more of a damp mud hole inthe middle of a sea of dry yellow
grass. Where did everyone go,asked Eli. Yeah, said Carson.

(12:24):
There used to be lots of animalsaround here. Since when did everywhere get
so dry and dusty? Asked Harleyas she looked around. Oh no,
said Eli, realizing what a terriblemistake they'd all made. We've been so
busy telling everyone that the water holebelongs to us that we fail to notice

(12:48):
that nobody even wanted it any more. They've all gone to find a new
water hole, said Carson. Wherethe grass is greener, said Harley,
and there's less dust, coughed Eli. They looked down at their pathetic muddy
hole and all came to the sameconclusion. It's time to move on,

(13:13):
said Carson. We need to finda new water hole. Hey, we
could all go together, suggested Harleythe hippo if er. That's all right,
I think that's a lovely idea,said Eli the elephant. Then let's
get going, smiled Carson the crocodile. It was hard work traveling across the

(13:39):
dry savannah. Eli struggled because hekept breathing in huge dusty gulps of air
through his trunk. Carson struggled becausehe didn't have legs built for walking so
far, and Harley struggled because she'dnormally be hidden from the heat of the
sun beneath the cool water. Butby helping each other, they kept on

(14:01):
going despite their difficulties. Eventually theland became greener and they started to see
creatures again. Then, best ofall, they came over a small hill
to see a gigantic, shimmering waterhole open out before them. Look at
that, smiled Eli. It's perfect, grinned Carson. I can't wait to

(14:28):
dive right in giggled harly. Butthis time I think we should share,
added the elephant. Yes, andbe more tolerant to those around us,
said the crocodile, so everyone canenjoy it together, finished the hippopotamus.

(14:50):
With a spring in their steps,they headed down the hill to the water.
Hold it, hold it, saida voice from amongst the long grasp
before them. A large head witha bushy mane of hair rose up to
snarl at them. This here waterhole is mine, began the lion.

(15:13):
Eli looked at his two friends andsaid, are you going to tell him
or shall i? Animal fact,African elephants are the world's largest land animal.
Their legs have to support a tremendousweight, which means there's more going

(15:33):
on in their limbs than you mightthink. They actually walk on their toes,
so what appears to be their kneesis in fact their wrist, and
behind their toes at the back ofthe foot is a very large cushioned pad,
like a shock absorber. The crocodilein our story is a nile crocodile
found throughout Africa. They grow toaround five meters in length that's just over

(15:58):
sixteen feet, making them a verybig predator capable of tackling some large prey.
Hippos are very interesting animals. Despitebeing vegetarians, they have lethal teeth
and will defend their territory forcefully.They spend their days sleeping in water and

(16:18):
their nights out on the grasslands feeding. We hope you liked what we did
with your suggestion, Eli, Carsonand Harley. If any of you have
an animal suggestion, then we'd liketo hear it at podcast at Animaltales dot
uk. If you're enjoying animal tales, please do tell a friend. Make
sure you join us next time foranother great animal tale. Good Bye,