Page 196 - The Miracle of Migration in Animals

THE MIRACLE OF MIGRATION IN ANIMALS

usually winter where there is an abundant supply of lichen but little
snow, making it easier to reach the food supply. In summer, they need
protein and minerals to produce milk in order to suckle the newborn
fawns. And lichens contain very little of these.
The nutrients in plants vary according to latitude, altitude and
soil composition. At high latitudes, plants are rich in protein and min-
erals as well as being easy to digest—but only at the beginning of the
growth season, not in all seasons. As if they were aware of this fact,
caribou move to such areas at the beginning of summer.
Further into the summer season, the nutrient value of these
plants is gradually reduced. As temperatures drop and snow starts to

cover the ground, lichen once again becomes the most suitable food,
and for this reason, caribou start migrating back to their winter
grounds. It is not possible for these animals to think like botanists or
geography experts and know which plants grow at what season at
what latitude, what nourishment these plants contain, and what di-
rection they need to go in to reach them. But these animals consis-
tently display exactly the right behavior they need to continue their
existence, which clearly shows that this behavior has been taught to
them.
With endless mercy, Almighty God protects the life forms He
has created. In addition to creating the deer’s bodies to be totally com-
patible with the conditions under which they exist, God inspires their
behavior at all times. These creatures live their lives with the inspira-
tion of God, and each one of them is evidence of His infinite power:
The Originator of the heavens and Earth. When He decides
on something, He just says to it, “Be!” and it is. (Qur’an,
2:117)

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