Mom was so grateful he stopped to help
Sometimes, a small act of kindness can make a world of difference, especially when it comes to saving lives. Just ask Paulo De Tarcio Carvalho.
Earlier this month, while driving near his home in Brazil, Carvalho came across an unexpected sight. As he was driving, he noticed several animals moving in the road ahead. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a mother armadillo with three babies. The sight tugged at his heart, but what he saw next raised a sense of urgency.
While the armadillo mom was able to navigate the curb along the roadside, her three babies were unable to cross that small obstacle. The tiny family stood at a crossroads, unaware of the danger posed by the busy road around them. The babies, not yet capable of navigating the situation on their own, were at risk of being caught in traffic.
Without a second thought, Carvalho decided to take action. He stopped his truck, got out, and began to carefully collect each baby armadillo, one by one, and carried them to safety. As he worked, the armadillo mother stood guard, watching over her babies. She even approached Carvalho, stepping a little closer to him as if seeking reassurance, and he patted her gently as he continued his lifesaving task.
Thanks to Carvalho’s quick thinking, all four armadillos were safely moved away from the danger of the road. There’s no telling what might have happened to that little family if he hadn’t intervened, but for Carvalho, the act of saving them was reward enough.
As he later wrote, “Saving animals is always good!” And indeed, his simple but profound act of kindness made all the difference for that armadillo family.