Shere Khan

Shere Khan /ˈʃɪər ˈkɑːn/ (Hindi: शेर खान) is a fictional tiger who appears in two of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book stories featuring Mowgli and their adaptations. The word Shere (or "shir") translates as "tiger" or "lion" in Persian, Urdu, and Punjabi, and Khan translates as "sovereign," "king", or "military leader", in a number of languages influenced by the Mongols, including Pashto.

The original Jungle Book stories

Despite being born with a crippled leg and derisively nicknamed Lungri (The Lame One) by his mother, Shere Khan is arrogant and regards himself as the rightful lord of the jungle. The only creature who looks up to him is Tabaqui, the cowardly, despised golden jackal.

In "Mowgli's Brothers", Shere Khan's failed attempt to hunt humans causes a human "cub" to stray from his parents. When Shere Khan discovers the infant, it has been adopted by Indian wolves, Raksha and Father Wolf, who have named the child Mowgli. However, Mowgli is accepted into Akela's wolf pack and is protected by Bagheera and Baloo. Furious at losing his kill, the tiger swears that the boy will be his some day. While Mowgli is growing up, Shere Khan infiltrates the wolf pack, by promising the younger wolves rich rewards, once Akela is deposed. When the young wolves manoeuvre Akela into missing his kill, the pack council meets to expel him. Shere Khan threatens to take over their hunting territory if the wolves do not give him Mowgli. Having been warned by Bagheera, Mowgli attacks Shere Khan and his allies with a burning branch and drives them away. Akela leaves the pack to become a lone hunter. Mowgli returns to the human village, but swears that he will return one day with Shere Khan's skin.

Shir Khan

Shir Khan, Sher Khan, or Shere Khan, may refer to:

Film

People

Places

Afghanistan

Iran

Other uses