In the heart of the animal kingdom, maternal love manifests in extraordinary ways. Many poignant stories reveal the powerful bonds and selfless sacrifices that animals make for their offspring. These narratives not only illustrate the innate empathy present in animals, but also inspire us to recognize and honor the universal nature of maternal love in animals and the lessons it imparts about our own humanity.
An old cow demands water
In a desert area of Qinghai Province, water is extremely scarce. Each person receives a daily ration of just 1,500 ml of water, which the stationed army brings in from far away. This water has to suffice for drinking, washing, cooking, and feeding the livestock. Without water, the livestock suffer greatly from thirst.
One day, an old cow, usually docile and loyal, desperately broke free from its tether and made its way onto a desert road, positioning itself along the route that water trucks had to pass. With astonishing determination, the cow waited for half a day until a water truck arrived. The soldiers driving the truck had encountered animals blocking the road for water before, but none as stubborn as this cow. However, the army had strict rules: The water trucks must not have any “leakage” en route and could not dispense water freely. While seemingly harsh, these rules were necessary since every drop of water was part of someone’s ration.
The standoff between the soldiers and the cow lasted for a long time, even causing a traffic jam. The frustrated drivers started cursing, and some impatient ones tried igniting gasoline to scare the cow away.
But the cow stood firm like a mountain, unmoved. Finally, the cow’s owner arrived. Feeling deeply apologetic, he raised his whip and struck the frail old cow hard. The cow’s veins bulged from the blows, but it did not move. The blood from the whip wounds stained the whip, the cow, and even the sand and the setting sun.
The cow’s pitiful bellow, mixed with the cold desert wind, created a heart-wrenching scene. The soldiers and drivers were all moved to tears. Finally, one of the soldiers said: “Let me break the rules for once; I am willing to accept the punishment.” He took out his own water basin and drew 1500 ml of water from the truck, placing it in front of the cow.
But to everyone’s surprise, the cow did not drink the water it had fought so hard for. Instead, it faced the sunset, letting out a long, mournful call, as if summoning someone. In the twilight, a calf appeared from behind a nearby sand dune. The injured cow watched as the calf greedily drank the water. The cow then lovingly licked the calf’s eyes, and the calf licked its mother’s eyes in return. Those watching in silence saw tears in the eyes of mother and calf.
As the last rays of sun faded into the horizon, the mother and calf, without waiting for their owner’s call, began their journey home amid the silent stillness of the onlookers.
A sea otter feeds on milk
The following is another true story, as recounted by a monk.
Before becoming a monk, the man had been a hunter who specialized in capturing sea otters. One day, he caught a giant sea otter. After skinning it for its valuable fur, he left the dying otter hidden among the grass.
The hunter returned to the spot that evening, but couldn’t find the otter. Following a trail of faint bloodstains, he discovered it led to a small cave. Peering inside, he was shocked to see that the sea otter, enduring the pain of having been skinned, had crawled back to its den. Why? When the hunter dragged out the now-dead sea otter, he found two tiny pups, not yet able to open their eyes, tightly sucking on their dead mother’s dried-up teats.
This scene profoundly shocked the hunter. He had never imagined that animals could possess such human-like maternal instincts, thinking of their children’s well-being even in their dying moments. The hunter felt utterly despicable, overwhelmed by grief, shame, and self-reproach.
He put down his knife, gave up hunting, and became a monk to pursue spiritual cultivation. Many years later, whenever this monk recalled this event, his eyes still filled with tears.
These stories highlight the deep emotional bonds in the animal kingdom, teaching us about compassion, sacrifice, and the profound connections that transcend species. They inspire us to see beyond ourselves and appreciate the selfless love and determination found in all living beings.
Translated by Katy Liu
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