Thousands of years ago on the volcanic island of Puerto Rico, Mother Nature created El Yunque, the most beautiful forest she had ever designed, and it was filled with flora and fauna. She added vines, giant ferns, mosses, epiphytes and orchids, birds and fish of every color and size; it was truly a natural masterpiece. Every living creature, plant or animal, coexisted in harmony, and El Yunque became the perfect sanctuary for life to flourish. Mother Nature soon realized that this precious piece of nature had to be protected from any dangers, so she took some waters from the waterfalls of El Yunque and formed a small boy, a spirit of the forest. His name was Coquí, and he was the only thing that Mother Nature loved more than the Earth itself. She taught Coquí how to care for El Yunque, teaching him how to raise the forest and bring life to the plants and wildlife, and most importantly, showing him to love El Yunque with all his heart.

“Coquí,” she spoke, “I trust you— guard this forest and it’s creatures for me.”

Coquí responded, “I will Mama— I’ll protect it with my life.”

One morning, a deadly storm, Tormenta, decided to change her course and head straight towards Puerto Rico. For years she always envied Mother Nature and her ability to create life, while Tormenta could only destroy it. So, out of jealousy, she wished to demolish Mother Nature's precious Yunque. Coquí saw Tormenta in the distance, using towering waves to plow through islands.

“It’s not fair,” Tormenta snapped, “I’m tired of always being feared while Mother Nature is praised for her creations. When I destroy her forest she will know the pain that has followed me all my life.”

“I can’t let her destroy this forest,” Coquí whispered to himself, “It means so much to Mama.”

He remembered his promise to Mother Nature and knew this was his opportunity to prove his devotion to El Yunque. In a split second decision, Coquí decided to use his body to create a protective shield over El Yunque. Through this process he sacrificed himself, turning back into the water he was created out of. Tormenta finally arrived to Puerto Rico, and using her wrath, she leveled almost every part of the island, except for one. El Yunque was untouched; Coquí’s barrier worked perfectly. Every branch was in place, every sleeping animal undisturbed. Tormenta, realizing her plan had failed, continued on to the horizon in embarrassment. Once it was certain Tormenta had left Puerto Rico alone, Coquí’s barrier fell, turning into a rain that coated all the forest, and transforming El Yunque into a rainforest. Mother Nature searched high and low for Coquí hoping her son was still alive.

“Coquí! Coquí!” she called, but she heard no response.

Mother Nature spent days searching the entire rainforest asking the creatures if they had seen Coquí, but they could not help her.

“Please Flora, guide me to Coquí,” she pleaded to the vines and the flowers.

The vines, eager to assist, guided Mother Nature to a small orchid. Here was where she found the only remaining piece of her son, a singular raindrop resting on a petal. Her heart broke, Coquí gave his life for the forest that she loved so dearly.

“Coquí, thank you,” she wept, “I promise your bravery will be eternalized.”

Taking the small droplet, she created a little frog to honor Coquí’s sacrifice to the rainforest. She taught it to chant her son's name so that the rainforest and those who dwelled in it would be reminded of the brave tale of Coquí. To this day, the Coquí still chants for all the El Yunque to hear.

Photo Credits:

Image by Ohara Koson via https://www.si.edu/object/frog-lotus-leaf:fsg_S2003.8.1968

Image by MrsMary from Pixabay