Stories of animals repaying human kindness are known as gratitude folktales. While they may seem like fairy tales, such stories sometimes unfold in real life.
One day in South Africa, a man was about to leave home when he discovered an injured owl lying helpless on the ground. He carefully carried it home, treated its wounds, and provided it with a warm nest and nourishing food. Under his devoted care, the owl gradually regained its strength, and after about two months, it was able to fly again. When the time came, the man released it back into the wild, believing their brief bond had ended.
But the owl did not forget. Even after regaining its freedom, it returned from time to time, never coming empty-handed. Each visit, it brought small offerings—mice, snakes, or insects. Though these were not the kind of gifts a person might welcome, they were the owl’s most sincere expression of gratitude. While the offerings ultimately went to the man’s pet cat, what truly moved him was the owl’s unwavering heart.
Recognizing kindness and repaying it is a virtue, yet even humans often fail to do so. Perhaps that is why stories of animals that repay kindness, despite primarily following their instincts, resonate so deeply with us.
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