The Lion King: Human Worth
What happened before the stampede?
One morning, Simba gazed out from Pride Rock at the distance, and saw a leafy green patchwork of trees. In the center of it all stood a large rock about the same size as his home. Mufasa strode out of the cave and told Simba, "Over there, in the jungle, human activity is going on. This is why you should never cross the desert." "What do humans do to us?" asked Simba. "They're even more dangerous than going into a village, Simba," responded Mufasa, "They use us to make hides and use our meat for food, and they want to sell them to big markets in respiratory kingdoms..." "Like the UK?" "If the government would allow humans to sell us to circuses and big trade markets, then we have no chance of return to the Pride Lands." "But I thought you said the jungle was safe," said Simba, confused. "I was but then I met a tiger family somewhere out in the far reaches of the Pride Lands. They told us their son crossed the desert and got swallowed whole by a visiting whale, but luckily managed to survive. You can take the cub out of the jungle..." "But you can't take the jungle out of the cub," added Sarabi, striding in beside her husband. "That's what worries me," said Mufasa.
Later, Simba and Nala raced through the Grasslands together, tossing a piece of a zebra carcass to one another. At last, Nala nudged the carcass piece to Simba. "Have a gnaw on this. I'm not really hungry," she said. "My mum helped me hunt. Lions hunt but we're also hunted." "Has it happened to you?" asked Simba. "No, but I've often heard a gunshot. I suppose it will be my turn one day." "You could stay with me...as my queen." "Thank you," nodded Nala, "But what you're already doing is so noble." "You think so?" asked Simba. "I do. Such strength – to protect the weaker animals you would normally hunt...and then hunt them again." But whilst they were talking, a human hunter pointed his gun straight at Nala. Simba at once saw the human, and pushed Nala out of the way just as the hunter fired.
They rolled and tumbled along the grass. "Wheeeee!" they shouted, but not before they stopped at the paws of Simba's uncle Scar. "Bravo, bravo," applauded Scar, "You did well in rescuing your little friend." Scar slyly brought Simba close. Nala, nervous, backed away. "He only tried to save me from man." "Man is a lion's best friend, not a dangerous enemy," hissed Scar. He looked down at Simba. "Now come with me. I have something to show you..."
Simba faced two dangers in one day: the threat of man and the death of his father. Luckily, when he lived in the jungle with Timon and Pumbaa, he realized that the jungle wasn't a dangerous place after all, and that any animal could be welcome to visit.