Migration/refugee stories from animals
What motivates animals to leave their homes and start over in a foreign land? Today we’re sharing a few powerful migration/refugee stories told first hand that reveal the complex reality and increasing popularity of animal migration.
Jack, polar bear, 33. When his Arctic home melted, he was forced to migrate to Antarctica. On a raft with 300 other bears, they crossed the Pacific only to find out that it had melted too. He was accused of raping a seal and sent back home so now he just lives in the ocean in an old plastic bottle he found floating around. He has lost enough weight to squeeze in.
Roger, penguin, 23. He had a dream in which he fell out of a plane into the Sahara dessert. A big believer in following your dreams, he repeated this in real life. Upon hitting the land he was refused a visa and is now paraplegic and stateless. He rolls around the desert speaking at illegal motivational seminars about the power of following your dreams.
Dylan, moose, 56. When his family home burnt in the last forest fire, he abandoned his three children and ran North South West in search of a better life. There he was sold into slavery and later as a steak to a local supermarket. He is happy in his new better shelf life, his new expiry date is much longer than that of his asylum papers. And it seems he is reunited with his children on the same shelf.
Clara, zebra, 22. Came to the city with 2000 fellow zebras in search of a good party and some grass. She found too much grass and too many good parties and eventually ended up detained in an animal shelter where she was sold to a blind elderly woman as a miniature poodle. She learnt to bark and is now well integrated into the pet city life. Occasionally, some would ask where her accent is from but otherwise she blends in well.
Pigeons, Matt and Jerry, both 19, on the other hand are fleeing the city for the rainforest. When asked what attracted you to it, they reply simply “It’s the birds”. They see themselves as sex tourists rather than migrants but are aware that this status might make it tricky to apply for asylum. So the official reason is escaping from the out of control population of feral parrots.
John, hedgehog, 12. Migrated to the fence but didn’t dare to cross the border. Instead, fell into hibernation or maybe died. Who knows anything about hedgehogs anyway.
Meanwhile, the rats are saying, “We’re staying, no matter what”. Nothing tempts the rats.
