The jungle was unusually quiet that morning. The leaves shimmered in the early sunlight, and the distant call of birds echoed through the treetops. But beneath the peaceful appearance, tension crackled like an electric wire. CUTIS, the clever and brave farmer who had taken in a baby monkey, sensed something wasn’t right. His instincts, sharpened by years of living close to nature, were rarely wrong.
He had noticed strange tracks near the edge of his farm the night before—boot prints, too large to be his own, and a broken branch here and there. CUTIS was sure someone had been stalking the area. His first concern was the safety of the animals—especially the baby monkey he had come to love like his own child. The little monkey, always curious and playful, had no idea of the danger that lurked nearby.
The Discovery of the Threat
CUTIS began investigating early. Armed with his walking stick and a small camera, he followed the tracks into the forest. He crouched low, examining claw marks on the bark of a tree and bits of torn fabric stuck on a thorn bush. Someone had moved swiftly through this area—and not for a peaceful purpose. Then, he found it: a steel trap, hidden beneath dry leaves. A hunter had set it, cruelly waiting for an innocent animal to step into it.
His blood boiled. He knew this wasn’t the work of someone simply trying to survive—it was someone dangerous. Someone who didn’t care about life, animal or human. And now, CUTIS made a decision: he would catch this hunter, not just for his own safety, but for every creature that called the forest home.
Planning the Trap
CUTIS spent the rest of the day preparing. He thought through every move, understanding the mind of a hunter. He knew hunters often came back to check their traps, and this one would return soon. So, CUTIS used his knowledge of the land to set up a counter-trap—not a violent one, but clever enough to expose and delay the intruder.
He smeared a faint trail of fruit and animal scent leading to an open clearing, placing one of his broken chicken crates there as bait. High above, he tied a net crafted from fishing rope between two trees, balanced delicately and triggered by a single tripwire. Hidden behind a rock, he placed his camera, programmed to snap photos once movement was detected.
CUTIS even prepared a dummy—an old shirt stuffed with hay and dressed like a monkey—to lure the hunter into thinking he had cornered an easy target. He covered his tracks and waited silently in the shadows.
The Terrifying Chase Begins
At exactly midnight, a snapping twig broke the silence. CUTIS watched through the brush as a tall figure moved into the clearing. The man wore dark clothing, his face hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat. He carried a rifle slung across his shoulder and moved like someone who had done this a hundred times before.
CUTIS held his breath. The hunter stepped forward, drawn by the scent trail. His eyes fixed on the crate. Just as he bent down to inspect it—SNAP!—his foot hit the tripwire.
In an instant, the rope net sprang from above, wrapping around the man and hoisting him into the air. He screamed, cursing as he dangled and kicked. CUTIS jumped from his hiding place, shining a flashlight on the trapped figure.
“I knew someone was hunting in my forest,” CUTIS shouted. “You messed with the wrong place!”
The hunter thrashed violently, trying to cut the net with a hidden knife, but CUTIS was ready. He grabbed the rifle that had fallen to the ground and pointed it back at him.
“Who are you?” CUTIS demanded. “Why are you hunting here?”
The Shocking Identity Revealed
The hunter stopped struggling and let out a low laugh. “You’re smarter than you look, farmer,” he said. “But you have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
CUTIS stepped closer, shining the light on the man’s face—and gasped. It was Mr. Vann, a former ranger turned rogue, believed to have disappeared years ago after being caught poaching endangered animals.
“You?” CUTIS said, stunned. “You used to protect this forest!”
Mr. Vann sneered. “Those days are over. There’s money to be made—more than you’d understand. Rare animals, exotic pelts. There’s a whole market out there.”
CUTIS clenched his fists. “You betrayed your duty, your people… and the animals you swore to protect!”
Vann shrugged in the net, as if it didn’t matter. “You won’t be able to stop them all. Even if you stop me, there are more.”
CUTIS’s eyes burned with resolve. “Maybe. But I’ll start with you.”
Justice for the Forest
CUTIS contacted the local authorities using his walkie-talkie. Within the hour, rangers arrived at the scene, stunned to see their former colleague hanging like a caught animal. They arrested Mr. Vann and confiscated his weapons. News quickly spread throughout the region—CUTIS had caught the infamous poacher everyone thought was long gone.
The next day, reporters and wildlife officials arrived at the farm. CUTIS, though shy of the attention, gave a brief statement. “This forest is my home. These animals are my family. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them.”
He then turned to the baby monkey, who had clung to his leg during the whole event, sensing the danger but trusting CUTIS completely.
“We’re safe now,” he whispered, petting the monkey’s head. “But we must always stay smart. Evil doesn’t sleep.”
Aftermath: A New Hero Rises
Word of CUTIS’s bravery spread far and wide. Conservation groups reached out to support his efforts, donating surveillance equipment, cameras, and even motion sensors to help him monitor the forest. Children from nearby villages visited his farm to learn about protecting nature, and CUTIS became a local hero, admired not just for his courage but for his clever mind and deep love for the land.
He continued farming as before, raising crops, caring for animals, and playing with the baby monkey. But something had changed. CUTIS was now more than a farmer—he was the jungle’s guardian, someone who had stood up to danger and refused to be afraid.
And whenever someone passed through the forest and saw the handmade sign that read “Protected by CUTIS”, they knew: this was not a place for harm or greed. It was a place of life, defended by someone who would never give up.
