Long ago, in a small village near the African savanna, there lived a hunter known for his bravery, skill, and kindness. He hunted only what was necessary to feed his family and help his community. He never killed for pleasure and believed that every living creature had value.
One morning, while traveling deep into the forest, the hunter set a large trap meant for dangerous animals. Soon after, a painful roar echoed through the trees. Following the sound, he discovered a powerful leopard trapped by its leg, bleeding and unable to escape. The leopard struggled in fear and pain, its eyes filled with both rage and desperation.
The leopard begged for mercy. It promised that if the hunter set it free, it would never harm him or anyone in the village. The hunter hesitated. He knew the leopard was a fierce and untrustworthy predator. Still, moved by compassion and the belief that mercy could change fate, he carefully opened the trap and freed the animal.
The moment the leopard was released, everything changed. It stood tall, shook the dust from its body, and revealed its true nature. Hunger and instinct took over. The leopard calmly told the hunter that it had not eaten in days and that the hunter himself would now be its meal.
Shocked, the hunter reminded the leopard of its promise. The leopard laughed and replied that in the wild, strength decides what is right, and promises mean nothing to an empty stomach. Desperate, the hunter asked for one final request. Before being eaten, he wanted to ask other animals in the forest whether it was right to kill the one who had saved his life. Confident in its power, the leopard agreed.
They first met a cow, who said that humans often care for animals for years only to kill them in the end. To the cow, gratitude had no meaning, and the leopard was justified. Next, they met a horse, who explained that after a lifetime of service, animals are abandoned when they grow old. Once again, the leopard was declared innocent. The hunter began to lose hope.
At last, they encountered a clever old rabbit. After listening carefully, the rabbit said it was confused and could not understand how the leopard had been trapped. It asked them to return to the original place and show exactly what had happened. Proud and careless, the leopard stepped back into the trap to demonstrate. In an instant, the hunter snapped the trap shut.
The leopard screamed that it had been tricked. The hunter calmly replied that betrayal deserves no mercy. He explained that he had only returned the situation to how it was before. Leaving the leopard behind, the hunter walked away safely, while the leopard remained trapped, a victim of its own greed and broken promise.
This traditional African folktale teaches a clear lesson for readers today. Kindness must be guided by wisdom, and those who betray trust often create their own downfall.