For children: The animals on Great Nicobar protest when the island is threatened by human greed

Once Golee had spread the word, the gathering under the canopy had grown so large and was filled with so many kinds of chatters and twitters, chirps and howls, that it was impossible to discern who was saying what. They were one united voice of the jungle.

“You see,” chattered Macaque, “there are plans to chop down our tree homes so the humans can construct big bright blocks they call buildings on our island. To do this, apparently, they need to erase nine million trees. They will destroy our paradise to create their man-made paradise.”

Golee’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “WHAT?” he cried, “That must be a huge amount. I mean, I can just about count up to nine, but I’ve heard a million is a really large number! That would mean so so so many trees. But why would anyone in their right mind want to cut down even a single tree? I mean, do humans even know how many creatures make their homes in every one?”

“Exactly. And this is why we must reach Delhi, somehow, some way, no matter what. Does anyone here have any idea where it is and how to get there?”

All the animals began talking at once,...

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