| Tales
for Conservation Winners
At the end of the 2011 Pollyanna had the difficult but enjoyable
task of reading the many entries in the ‘Tales For Wildlife’
International Children’s writing competition.
Launching the competition was Pollyanna’s first act in
her new role as Global Ambassador for Australian organisation
Wildlife Warriors. Entrants were invited to submit a story inspired
by any of the animals or subjects helped by Wildlife Warrior’s
conservation partners – snow leopards, cheetahs or any
other wild cat – or North American wildlife or wilderness
areas. Winners in each of three age groups will receive award
certificates, and a book or limited edition print signed by
Pollyanna.
We are delighted to announce that overall winning story is ‘The
Lesson of the Cheetah’ by nine year old Jenna Townsend
from Houston, Texas.
Pollyanna will create a painting of the animal subject of this
story inspired by Jenna’s writing. This painting will
be published as a limited edition, and Jenna will receive the
number one print, signed by Pollyanna. The print will then be
sold to raise funds for the winner’s chosen conservation
partner. We will unveil Pollyanna’s painting in the coming
weeks.
Pollyanna commented ‘I was overwhelmed by the incredibly
high standard of writing in all the entries. It is wonderful
to see how many talented young writers are out there! Many of
the stories brought a lump to my throat, and it was almost impossible
to select a winner. However in the end I kept being drawn back
to Jenna’s story, which is beautifully written, and touches
on the very real conservation issue of the conflict between
cheetahs and farmers in Africa – and the fact that cheetahs
are often persecuted because they are blamed for kills made
by other predators. But at the very end there is a deliciously
cheeky twist of humour!”
The wind was blowing the crisp golden grass over the vast savannah
plains. Nearby, a farmer surveyed his livestock, noticing that
one more of his family’s goats were missing. The farmer
grumbled, “It’s that cheetah again!” That
evening, the farmer set out to find the cheetah that was killing
his livestock. He grabbed a newly sharpened pitchfork and began
his hunt.
The farmer waded through the tall grasses, feeling the warm
African heat surround him. Suddenly, he thought he saw something
move. There! He moved closer…slowly, with his pitchfork
raised. And, there, lying in the tall grass, he found a cheetah
mother, nursing her three-month old cubs. The farmer raised
his pitchfork in the air, ready to kill the mother cheetah.
But the cheetah spoke softly, “Please don’t kill
me and my cubs.” The farmer stopped—shocked and
amazed! “This can’t be happening,” he said
under his breath.
“But it is,” said the cheetah. “I am Kekay.
The Queen of the Savannah,” she said, while she cleaned
her small cubs.
“But how are you speaking to me?” asked the farmer.
Kekay looked at him, as he slowly lowered his pitchfork.
“Let me tell you a story…” she began.
“Long ago, before your farm was here, my great-grandfather
cheetah was the ruler of these open plains. He was the fastest
cheetah ever. Gazelles could not even out run him, nor could
the kudu. He was so fast, my whole family would stay at the
den, and only he would go hunting for prey, which was plentiful
in these lands.
Then as the seasons passed, people began to move into our territory.
Because of this, our prey moved—finding other grasslands.
But the farmers remained with their own livestock. We had no
idea that those animals were not our prey, so we began to hunt
them to keep our family alive. My great grandfather was quick…leaping
over their sharp wire fences and dragging the animals back to
our den. The farmers became furious, and came after my family.
They thought we were killing their livestock for fun, but the
truth is, we had no choice because they drove out our natural
prey. The farmers found us. They killed my whole family except
my great grandfather. He barely escaped—running by the
farmers so fast that the air pushed them over. He ran, and ran.
Finally reaching a place where he felt safe. He eventually started
a new family—living a long and great life. My great grandfather
was a great cheetah. He taught our family about the farmers
and their livestock. That’s why his story is passed on
in my family.”
“So why are you telling me all this?” asked the
farmer.
Kekay looked with her big, golden eyes, “Because it is
not I that killed your livestock. Even though you have chased
my prey to other areas, I know that those animals are yours,
and do not belong to me.” The farmer sighed with relief,
“I am so sorry that I thought it was you. I will leave
you and your cubs alone!” Then the farmer went home, learning
a lesson that cheetahs aren’t always what they seem to
be.
Three hours later, he reached in his pocket and pulled out
a note. In horrible writing, it said, “The lions did it.
From, Kekay.”
Winners list :
Pollyanna was overwhelmed by the standard of the writing, and
as well as the winners selected several additional stories for
commendation
To read all the entries, and Pollyanna's comments please click
on the headers.
Pollyanna commented : Ellie's delightful tale of co-operation
was a clear winner in this group - and I loved the python called
Polly!
Very Highly Commended : Saarah Yousaf, Leeds, UK
Very Highly Commended : Tom Dixon Humphreys, London,UK
Highly Commended : Laura Ryder, Exeter UK
Highly Commended : Rajan Mann, Warwickshire, UK
Highly Commended : Sadia Nowshin, Coventry UK
Highly Commended : Elie Griffiths, Nottingham UK
Highly Commended : Nathanael Wheatcroft-Brown, Whitby UK
Very Highly Commended : Song Zheng Yi
Very Highly Commended : Fiona Doyle
Very Highly Commended : Megan Ann Owens, Derbyhsire UK
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