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| Leopards | |
|---|---|
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Hair color |
Black, brown, cream, gold, and pink |
| Eye color |
Brown, gray, and green |
| Distinctions |
• Claws |
| Sociocultural characteristics | |
| Habitat |
Savanna |
| Dominions | |
| Diet |
• Antelope |
| Notable members | |
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Leopards are a species of animal native to the Back Lands. They feed on antelope, mountain goats, okapis, and tortoises.
History[]
Makucha's infiltration of the Pride Lands[]
| “ | Ono: Did you see the gazelles? They weren't scared of the leopard at all. Kion: That's why we've got to get him out of the Pride Lands. None of the herds know that leopards are hunters. |
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Makucha chases Ajabu.
A leopard named Makucha tracked an okapi named Ajabu into the Pride Lands. Eventually, the Lion Guard found Makucha's tracks and caught him stalking a herd of gazelles. He told them that he would not leave the Pride Lands unless they caught him first, then fled across Big Ravine.
Later, Beshte informed his friends that Ajabu was fleeing a leopard, and the Lion Guard resolved to warn him about Makucha's presence in the Pride Lands. Eventually, Makucha found Ajabu sheltering in a herd of zebras and began to chase him. Before Makucha could harm Ajabu, the Lion Guard leaped to the okapi's defense and overwhelmed Makucha, to the point that he gave up and returned to the Back Lands.[1]
Lion Guard assists Badili[]
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The Lion Guard meets Badili.
One day, Laini informed the Lion Guard that a leopard had settled in the galagos' tree. The Guard confronted the leopard, Badili, and he revealed himself to be feeble and friendly. They asked him if he was the ferocious leopard who had driven out the galagos, and he explained that he had not known that he was stealing somebody's home. They wondered if he had territory of his own, and he admitted that he lived in Mirihi Forest in the Back Lands. Though he tried to persuade the Lion Guard to let him remain in the Pride Lands, they insisted that he must return home, and he reluctantly acquiesced.
Along the way to Mirihi Forest, Badili attempted to stall the Lion Guard, to no avail. Eventually, they reached his territory, and he went on ahead of the Guard. Suspicious, they followed him and witnessed a leopard named Mapigano bullying him out of his territory. The Guard immediately jumped to Badili's defense and drove Mapigano off, to Badili's delight.
Badili stands up to Mapigano.
The next day, the galagos approached the Lion Guard once more, revealing that Badili had returned to their tree. The Guard asked him why he had left his territory again, and he confessed that Mapigano had kicked him out. Realizing that they had made a mistake in driving off Mapigano, Kion resolved to teach Badili to stand up for himself. Though hesitant, Badili agreed to train with the Lion Guard and eventually grew more confident in his skills and strength.
With the Lion Guard watching from the underbrush, Badili confronted Mapigano and stood up for himself, driving the leopard out of his territory. Afterward, the Lion Guard praised Badili for his bravery, and he thanked them for having believed in him. With Badili settled in his territory for good, the Guard left to inform the galagos that they could return to their tree.[2]
Makucha's attack on Dhahabu[]
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When the Lion Guard crossed through the Back Lands to visit Queen Dhahabu, Makucha intercepted them and warned them that they were in his territory. Kion insisted that they were just passing through, but Makucha merely attacked them. However, upon being overwhelmed by the Guard's sheer numbers, he backed down and told them to pass through quickly.
Makucha and his leopard allies face off against the Lion Guard.
Later, the Lion Guard and Dhahabu found a rockslide that was blocking up a waterfall. As they started to clear the dam, Makucha appeared and accused them of stealing his water. Though Dhahabu attempted to use her royal status to reason with Makucha, he resolved to eat her, and the Lion Guard jumped to her defense. At that moment, Makucha called on his leopard allies to help him, and a fight broke out between the leopards and the Lion Guard.
Eventually, the Lion Guard chased away Makucha's allies, but Makucha cornered Dhahabu and threatened to harm her if the Guard did not leave. Instead of acquiescing, the Guard subtly encouraged Dhahabu to take action, and she kicked Makucha into the dam, breaking it. As the water began to burst free, Makucha fled in fury.[3]
Makucha's attack on Kongwe[]
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While crossing through the Back Lands, Fuli, Kongwe, and Makini were confronted by Makucha. He expressed interest in eating Kongwe, as tortoises were a "rare delicacy," but Fuli warned him to back off, and he reluctantly agreed. Before leaving, he reminded her that she was in his territory.
Makucha runs from Fuli.
Shortly afterward, Makucha attacked again, and Fuli began to chase him. However, when he leaped into a tree, she attempted to follow him, only to get her claws stuck in the bark. With Fuli in a prone position, Makucha advanced on Kongwe and Makini. Just in time, Fuli freed herself and tackled Makucha. He began to run from her again, taunting her as he went, and she eventually collapsed from exhaustion. In the wake of Fuli's defeat, Kongwe encouraged her to observe Makucha, and Fuli realized that he would zig-zag whenever he ran away from her.
With renewed confidence, Fuli confronted Makucha. This time, when he tried to flee from her, she ran in a straight line until she caught up to him and pinned him to the ground. In the face of his shock, she proclaimed that she would always catch and ordered him to back off. Intimidated, he ran away.[4]
Makucha's trap for the Lion Guard[]
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On their way to the Tree of Life, the Lion Guard passed through the Back Lands. There, they were confronted by Makucha and his friends, Fahari and Jiona. A fight broke out between the leopards and the Lion Guard, until a dust storm called a harmattan interrupted the battle. To escape the harsh winds, the leopards took shelter in a nearby cave. The Guard likewise sheltered in the cave, only to discover that Makucha and his friends were already within.
Makucha, Fahari, and Jiona confront the Lion Guard.
Irritated by the pain in his scar, Kion ordered Makucha to leave, but he retorted that the Lion Guard should leave, since they were in his territory. Before Kion could attack Makucha, Makini calmed him with some tuliza. With Kion's sense restored, Fuli suggested that they wait out the harmattan, but Makucha retorted that the storm may last for weeks, adding that he would not let them stay on his turf that long. He then offered to guide the Guard through the storm, as he wanted them out of his territory as soon as possible. Though suspicious of Makucha's motives, the Guard agreed to his plan.
Together, the leopards and the Lion Guard ventured out into the harmattan. As they traveled, they took shelter in a canyon, where a loose rock nearly crushed Kion. Just in time, Makucha knocked him aside. In the face of his friends' shock, he claimed that he had merely been trying to save himself.
Makucha, Fahari, and Jiona resolve to visit the Tree of Life.
As the group continued on their way, Makucha overheard Makini discussing the Tree of Life with Anga, specifically how it was home to many sick, weak animals. Drawing his friends aside, Makucha schemed to lead the Lion Guard off a cliff so that the leopards could force Makini to take them to the Tree of Life.
The plan went into motion, with Makucha steering the Lion Guard toward a canyon that ended in a steep drop-off. As the Guard approached the ledge, Bunga fell off, and Ono warned his friends that Makucha had led them astray. A fight broke out between the leopards and the Lion Guard, until Ono sensed that the winds were picking up and warned his teammates to shelter behind some rocks. Not hearing Ono's warning, the leopards got blown away. Once they had recovered, Makucha vowed to follow the Lion Guard to the Tree of Life, but his friends refused to join him.[5]
Formation of Makucha's army[]
While following the Lion Guard, Makucha recruited Chuluun the snow leopard and Ora the Komodo dragon to join him on his revenge quest.[6][7]
Makucha's army's arrival at the Tree of Life[]
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Together, Makucha and his newfound allies followed the Lion Guard to the mountain pass that led to the Tree of Life. Though Ora could not detect the Guard's scent, Makucha and Chuluun assured him that they had traveled through the pass. Makucha attempted to take charge of his allies, but they objected, and the group began to squabble among themselves. Overhearing their threats, Ullu the owl left to inform the Night Pride.
Makucha and his allies arrive at the Tree of Life.
Shortly afterward, the Night Pride confronted Makucha's army and drove them away from the mountain pass. The Lion Guard arrived to help, only to learn from Baliyo that the Night Pride had already fought off two leopards and a Komodo dragon. Realizing that the Guard had inadvertently led their enemies to the Tree of Life, Kion offered his services to the Night Pride, but Queen Janna encouraged him to focus on his healing instead.
That night, Chuluun led her allies into the Tree of Life's territory, only for the Night Pride to drive them off again. Next, Ora led a mission by the light of day, during which the army crossed the border and attacked the Night Pride. Before the army could succeed, Kion joined the fight, and Ora fled in fear of the Roar. Makucha and Chuluun attempted to scale some cliffs in order to reach the Tree of Life, but Kion and Rani worked together to drive them off. As the leopards fled, Bunga doused them with stink for good measure.[8]
Mama Binturong's plot[]
| “ | Mama Binturong: The queen of the Tree of Life is old and weak. She can't even leave her lair. We take her out, and everyone will panic. Makucha: Then, all those rare, delicious animals will be ours.
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Following Makucha's army's failure, a binturong named Mama Binturong promoted herself to be the group's new leader.[8] For her first plan, she resolved to gain entry to the Tree of Life by pretending to seek sanctuary from Makucha and his allies. Makucha wondered if the Lion Guard would recognize her, but she explained that only Bunga knew what she looked like.
Makucha, Chuluun, and Ora resolve to kill Queen Janna.
That day, the army enacted their plan, with Makucha, Chuluun, and Ora chasing Mama Binturong through the mountain pass while she screamed for help. Before long, the Night Pride arrived and fought off the invaders, after which they accepted Mama Binturong for healing at the Tree of Life. Once inside the territory, she gathered valuable intel and informed her allies that they should take out Queen Janna, who was old and frail.
While Mama Binturong lured the Night Pride to her with cries for help, Makucha, Chuluun, and Ora snuck across the border en route to kill Janna. Just in time, the Lion Guard intercepted them and drove them out of the Tree of Life's territory. Meanwhile, Bunga and his friend, Binga, defeated Mama Binturong with their stink.[9]
Makucha's army's attack on Varya[]
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One day, Makucha's army attacked a family of tigers as they attempted to seek sanctuary at the Tree of Life. Before the invaders could harm the tigers, the Lion Guard and the Night Pride leaped to their defense, and the army retreated.[10]
Makucha's army's sunset attack[]
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Makucha's army attacks at sunset.
One morning, Makucha's army attempted to infiltrate the Tree of Life, only for the Night Pride to intercept them. However, Baliyo's yawning exposed how tired they were from a night of patrolling. Just then, the Lion Guard arrived to help the Night Pride, but Kion and Rani's dual leadership resulted in their teammates fighting sloppily. Eventually, Makucha's army retreated, though Mama Binturong stayed behind long enough to learn that the Lion Guard and the Night Pride would take shifts defending the Tree of Life.
Hoping to take advantage of the changing shifts, Mama Binturong ordered her army to attack at sunset. As the predators invaded, the Lion Guard and the Night Pride arrived to stop them. Because of Kion's good leadership skills, the two groups triumphed, and Makucha's army fled into the mountain pass.[11]
Battle for the Tree of Life[]
| “ | Jiona: Hello, Makucha. Fahari: Long time, no see. Makucha: Oh, yeah. Now, we're talking.
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One day, Makucha's army snuck into the Tree of Life's territory due to Ullu falling asleep and began to chase some mountain goats. Before the army could catch their prey, the Lion Guard took over the Night Pride's shift and drove them away.
Mama Binturong gathers new allies for the upcoming battle.
Later, Mama Binturong revealed that she had recruited several new allies, including Fahari and Jiona. Together, Makucha's army advanced on the Tree of Life. Though the Night Pride rushed into the Tree of Life in an attempt to stop the invaders, Ora and his minions trapped them inside by rolling a boulder into the entrance. With the Night Pride out of commission, Makucha's army attacked some nearby animals.
Eventually, the Lion Guard joined the battle, and Kion used the Roar of the Elders to defeat Makucha's army. To finish the fight, he swept them into a tornado and sent them far away from the Tree of Life.[12]
Physical characteristics[]
Leopards are large, four-legged mammals. They tend to be stocky and lithe, with powerful legs for climbing and hunting.[3][4] Most leopards have golden pelts, with black and brown spots on their hides, though some have more cream-tinted fur.[5] They have sharp teeth and claws.[2] They can have brown, gray, or green eyes.[3]
Sociocultural characteristics[]
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Leopards are known for being fierce and unkind.[2][3] They are solitary hunters who can track prey across long distances.[1] Though leopards tend to be territorial, they do sometimes band together to fight off intruders or hunt prey.[3][5] Leopards are known to prey upon antelope, mountain goats, and tortoises, and particularly like the taste of okapis.[1]
Notable leopards[]
Appearances[]
Films
Television series
Video games
Books Short stories Comics Magazine stories |
Trivia[]
- In The Lion Guard, Kion states that leopards do not live in the Pride Lands.[2] However, in The Lion King, leopards are mentioned in Zazu's Morning Report.[13]
- Despite being mentioned in the lyrics of "Circle of Life" in The Lion King and "He Lives In You" in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, leopards do not attend the presentations of Simba or Kiara.[13][14]
References[]
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