Why are animals different colors?
In Parshas Bamidbar, we learn that each shevet camped under its own unique flag with its own color and symbol, showing each family where they belonged. In nature, animals might also use color to stand out or to blend in. Famously, male peacocks flash bright feathers. Poison dart frogs show off their bold colors to warn predators “Don’t eat me!” Monarch butterflies have orange-and-black wings that other animals learn to avoid. Even ants, which all look alike to us, can recognize which colony another ant belongs to by its scent, and some species even show subtle color patterns. Colors and patterns in nature are not random. Hashem designed each animal to communicate a message, helping them find their place in the crowd.
