Mowgli
Mowgli is the main character in the book. Taken from his village by Shere Khan the
tiger, he escapes and runs into a cave where a wolf family live. They treat him as their
own and he is raised like a wolf cub. His wolf mother names him Mowgli which means
"Little Frog." He is a happy-go-lucky boy who considers himself a wolf. He is brave and
spunky as a young child and as he gets older his skills come to match his spunk. He is
lithe and athletic, more animal in movement than human, and visually striking to look
at. He is wily and smart and able to strategize well. Occasionally his imagination runs
away with itself and he is brought back to reality by Bagheera or Baloo. He deeply
loves his wolf family as his own. Mowgli is a good, strong leader who honors the
Jungle Law and respects the jungle traditions. He is eager to fight and defend his pack
whenever he feels they are threatened.
Shere Khan
Shere Khan is a tiger who has a pronounced limp due to once being shackled. He is
aggressive and extremely predatory, disrespectful of the Jungle Laws regarding
killing, and an innate troublemaker. He stole Mowgli from a village on the outskirts of
the jungle and never stops trying to hunt and kill him. He is also very political, forging
alliances against Mowgli and turning pack members against him. Shere Khan is more
brawn than brains and eventually gets trapped by Mowgli, who kills and skins him.
Bagheera
Bagheera is a black panther the color of ink, who most in the jungle are in awe of, and
also a little afraid of. He joins the Council at Circle Rock whilst they are discussing
Mowgli and trades his vote and a newly-killed boar for Mowgli's acceptance into the
pack. He is one of Mowgli's main teachers, the other being Baloo, and is a great guide
and example to him. He loves the man-cub dearly and the two spend much time
together.
Baloo
Baloo is a large brown bear who is the only non-wolf to be allowed at Council Rock. He
is Mowgli's "sponsor" into the pack and also his primary teacher, teaching him Jungle
Law, greetings, and how to stay safe and protected. He is fairly lazy physically
because of his substantial weight. He loves to open honey combs by hitting them
against the rocks until they break so that he can devour all of the honey within them.
Baloo is one of the few characters still living by the time Mowgli leaves to find man
again.
Kaa
Kaa is a giant python blessed with beautiful, polished skin that he regularly sheds. He
and Mowgli are great friends and Mowgli likes to lie on him as if a pillow. Kaa saved
Mowgli's life when he was taken by monkeys, and was also instrumental in killing the
red dogs by transporting Mowgli in silence to the other side of the water. Although he
does not like to associate with the wolves, he has great affection for their man cub.
Akela
Akela is a gray lone wolf and the leader of the Pack. He is wise and fair, making
decisions and keeping the Pack working and strong from the top of Council Rock. He
went out of his way to protect Mowgli as a cub and this debt is repaid when Mowgli
saves the jungle from the red dogs. Akela is a source of great knowledge and inspires
great respect from the rest of the Pack.
Buldeo
One of the few humans with a name in the book, Buldeo is the village chief who
unwittingly sees Mowgli fighting alongside the wolves to kill Shere Khan. He is intent
upon taking advantage of Mowgli and absolutely furious when he is not able to. He is
a decent hunter but no match for the jungle. He is given to exaggeration and told his
village that Mowgli changed from human to wolf to boy again before his very eyes.
Messua
Messua is Mowgli's human mother who recognizes her son when he returns at eleven
years old and again at seventeen. She is loving and protective, nursing Mowgli back
to health after his Spring Running. It is suggested that Mowgli returns to live with her
when he leaves the jungle.
