In the heart of this lush jungle, Tiko, a young elephant with a twinkle in his eye and a stubby nose, wandered through the foliage. His mind buzzed with questions, each as colorful as the jungle itself. Tiko's latest curiosity was a puzzling one: "What does the crocodile eat for dinner?"
Tiko approached the giraffe, who towered over him, her neck stretching to the treetops. "Do you know what the crocodile eats for dinner?" he asked eagerly. The giraffe, busy with her leafy meal, replied, "I only eat leaves, so I don’t know."
Undeterred, Tiko trotted over to the zebra, who was busy flicking his tail at flies. "What about you? Do you know about the crocodile's dinner?" The zebra shook his head, and Tiko sighed in disappointment.
Finally, he found the wise old owl, whose eyes gleamed with timeless knowledge. "You must know!" Tiko implored. The owl hooted softly, "Find out for yourself!"
Determined to uncover the truth, Tiko made his way to the riverbank, where the crocodile lay in wait. The water rippled lazily, and a pair of eyes peeked above the surface. "Hello, Mr. Crocodile!" Tiko called out. "Can you tell me what you eat for dinner?"
The crocodile grinned, his sharp teeth glistening. "Come closer, little elephant, and I’ll whisper it to you." Tiko, curious and innocent, stepped closer, unaware of the danger.
Suddenly—SNAP! The crocodile clamped down on Tiko’s nose, pulling him with surprising strength. Tiko cried out, digging his feet into the muddy bank. "Help!" he trumpeted, struggling to free himself.
Just then, a friendly hippo, who had been wallowing nearby, noticed the commotion. With a mighty splash, the hippo charged, scaring the crocodile into releasing Tiko with a loud **POP!** Sending Tiko tumbling backward.
Tiko lay on the riverbank, panting but safe. He glanced at his nose, now transformed into a long, wiggly trunk. At first bewildered, he soon discovered the joy of his new appendage. He picked up fruit, sprayed water on his back, and playfully tickled the birds in the trees.
When Tiko returned to the heart of the jungle, the other elephants were astounded by his new trunk. They marveled and tugged at their noses, eager to share in Tiko’s discovery. From that day on, all elephants had long trunks, thanks to Tiko’s adventure.
And as for Tiko? He continued to ask questions, but learned to be a bit more cautious—especially around crocodiles. Yet, his curious spirit remained undaunted, always ready for the next adventure.
