Gorillas

Gorillas are a species of animal native to the Pride Lands and the Theluji Mountains.
==Physical characteristics==
Gorillas are large, muscular, furred animals. They have short black or gray fur, with thick shoulders, five-fingered hands, small ears, and large foreheads. They typically walk on their back legs and knuckles.
==Sociocultural characteristics==
Gorillas inhabit the Theluji Mountains. They live in a troop led by King Sokwe, whose two sons are the troop's princes.
==History==
===Simba's presentation===
Gorillas attend Simba's presentation. Later, a gorilla appears during the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" musical sequence.
===Sokwe's peace treaty with Simba===
When the Lion Guard receives news of trouble, they find Hafifu and Majinuni holding two pangolins hostage and using them to spray each other with the pangolins' stink. Kion commands the gorillas to let the pangolins go, but they insist that the pangolins are too much fun to squeeze. Furious, Kion tackles them, enabling the pangolins to escape, and refuses to let them up until they promise not to hurt the pangolins again.
After the two vow to leave the pangolins alone, Kion lets them up and demands to know who they are. The two introduce themselves as brothers Hafifu and Majinuni, and tell Kion that they're looking for a lion named "King Zimba." Bunga informs the gorillas that Kion is Simba's son, and the brothers react with shock that Kion is a prince. They then excitedly declare that they are princes as well.
Kion is confused, so Majinuni explains that they are here to deliver a message from their father, King Sokwe. Fuli is doubtful of their claims, but before the Lion Guard can question them, the brothers take hold of Ushari the snake and toss him at a baobab fruit for fun. Kion reprimands them for their foolishness, but the gorillas simply reply with their catchphrase, "Kuishi ni kucheka," which means "To live is to laugh."
After the fiasco, the Lion Guard leads Hafifu and Majinuni to Pride Rock, where Kion relates the situation to his father, Simba. To Kion's surprise, Simba agrees that the message is important and explains that every wet season, King Sokwe informs Simba if their two kinds are still at peace or not.
Just then, the brothers come before Simba, but when prompted to relay their message, they admit that they have forgotten it. With this news, Simba is forced to ask Kion to deliver the gorillas back home and find out what Sokwe's message is. Kion wonders if the brothers should return home themselves and bring back the message again, but Simba points out that peace with the gorillas should not rely on Hafifu and Majinuni.
Together, the Lion Guard and the gorilla princes set off on their journey to the Theluji Mountains, where King Sokwe and his troop live. Once they reach the base of the mountain range, Kion asks Hafifu and Majinuni how to reach their father, but the brothers admit that they have only come down their mountain once: to deliver Sokwe's message to Simba.
Kion looks instead to Ono for guidance, and he leads them down a path through the trees at the base of the mountains. As the group travels deeper into the woods, Kion questions the gorillas once more on where they should go, but they remain as unhelpful as before. Just then, Beshte spots a chameleon, which prompts Hafifu and Majinuni to launch into a game of "chameleon hide-and-seek," in which they take off into the forest.
The Lion Guard attempts to locate the gorillas, but when their efforts prove unsuccessful, they decide to follow the sound of the brothers' voices. However, the gorillas deliberately circle around the Lion Guard, until Kion realizes their game and yells that the game isn't working. Hafifu and Majinuni decide to change the game to "forest hog chase," in which the Lion Guard has to chase the gorillas as they snort like forest hogs.
With the Lion Guard in pursuit, the gorillas race away into the fog, where they encounter a real forest hog. The Lion Guard rushes to save the brothers, and Kion tackles the forest hog just before it can harm Hafifu and Majinuni. With the danger abated, Kion suggests that they continue up the mountain, but the gorillas try one last tactic to stall the Lion Guard.
The team realizes that Hafifu and Majinuni are deliberately prolonging the journey and confront the gorillas over the matter. The brothers admit that they had originally agreed to deliver the message in order to prove to their father that they are good prince material, but now that they've failed, they don't want to disappoint him. Kion admits that he sometimes feels the same way about his father, and encourages the brothers to act like princes so that they feel like princes.
The journey continues, and the Lion Guard arrives at the foot of the Theluji Mountains. To their shock, they see the landscape covered in snow, a substance that they have never encountered before. Hafifu and Majinuni encourage the Lion Guard to play with them, and Kion allows the team a brief break in the snow.
Just then, Kion slips on a steep patch of ice and begins to slide down the mountain toward a perilous drop-off. Just before he can fall off, he manages to grapple the edge of the cliff with his claws, and the gorillas pull him to safety. After the rescue, Kion thanks them for saving his life and tells them that their bravery makes for good prince material.
The group continues on their journey until they meet the brothers' father, King Sokwe, who questions his sons on their activities. Though Sokwe initially appears to be displeased, he suddenly throws snow over his sons' heads and exclaims, "Kuishi ni kucheka!" He then compliments the two for their bravery in saving Kion's life and tells them that they are true gorilla princes.
===Shujaa assisting the Lion Guard===
At the watering hole, the Lion Guard regulates when the giraffes and zebras take turns to drink. Suddenly, a gorilla appears, smashing everything in sight. At first, the gorilla is hostile, but he backs down upon realizing that he is facing the Lion Guard.
The gorilla introduces himself as Shujaa and explains that the king of the Theluji Mountains, Sokwe, had sent him to assist the Lion Guard. He then explains his talents in destruction and strength ("Shujaa Ponda"). The Lion Guard explains that Beshte is the strongest in the Pride Lands, to which Shujaa eagerly asks for a demonstration. Although reluctant, Beshte throws a large boulder at Shujaa, who catches it and throws it back, nearly hitting Beshte and Ono.
Just then, Ono informs the Lion Guard that the crocodiles, hyenas, and jackals are attacking Big Springs. Alongside Shujaa, the team races to the rescue and confronts the invaders. However, before the Lion Guard can step in, Shujaa heaves boulders and trees at the Outlanders, effectively driving them away from Big Springs. In the process, he destroys the nearby area, blocking aardvark dens, trapping hares in mud, and tangling oryx's horns. Though Shujaa is upset, the Lion Guard resolves to clean the mess.
No sooner have they finished when Ono alerts them that the crocodiles, hyenas, and jackals have returned to hunt a herd of sable antelope. Kion suggests cutting through Nyani Grove, which inspires Shujaa to charge through the grove and begin clearing a wide path. In doing so, he knocks the baboons from their trees, and they charge into a herd of cape buffalo, inciting a stampede.
As Shujaa approaches the Outlanders, Kion enters the scene behind him and orders the sable antelope to move. He then uses the Roar of the Elders to blast the Outlanders away. Kion explains to Shujaa that he does not know his own strength, and Beshte offers to teach the gorilla what he knows. Shujaa agrees, and the two move off together to train.
Beshte and Shujaa encounter Laini and her fellow galagos in a tree, where they are suspicious of a serval on the opposite branch. The serval admits to being stuck, and Beshte questions Shujaa as to what they should do. Shujaa suggests uprooting the tree, but Beshte urges him to think more closely about the problem. This leads Shujaa to bend the branch of the tree down to the ground so the serval can clamber to safety. The plan works, until Shujaa lets go of the branch, catapulting Laini and the galagos into another tree.
Despite Shujaa's disappointment, the two move on to help a butterfly whose wing is stuck under a mound of rocks. Shujaa thinks on the problem, then removes the stones from around the butterfly's wing, effectively freeing it. Elated at his victory, Shujaa pounds on the rest of the rock mound, which frees a large boulder and sends it careening into the ground. Beshte saves Shujaa just in the nick of time.
The two move on to where Kifaru is lost in a canyon, blind and lost without the assistance of his tickbird. Shujaa realizes that Kifaru wants to reach a watering hole, which is just on the other side of the canyon, and punches a hole through the rock to allow Kifaru easy access. However, the rock gives way to reveal two hyraxes whose home had been built in the destroyed canyon wall. Beshte encourages Shujaa, reminding him that they can find a new home for the hyraxes, but Shujaa despairs over his inability to help other animals.
As Beshte delivers the hyraxes to their new home, Shujaa laments his destructive nature and resolves to never help again, lest he hurt more animals. Beshte urges Shujaa to not give up, but the gorilla refuses to move, even when Ono arrives with news that Big Springs is under attack and has been set ablaze. Beshte is forced to leave for Big Springs on his own.
Beshte arrives and orders the hippo pod to stay in the water while he deals with the fire, but in the midst of the fight, he injures his leg and is unable to move. Ono begs Shujaa for help, and the gorilla agrees to fight for the sake of Beshte.
Shujaa arrives to find Beshte collapsed on the ground. He thinks carefully on the solution, then lifts Beshte in his arms and sets him next to the water. He then defeats the Outlanders with his strength and uses dust to put out the last of the fire.
The Lion Guard praises Shujaa for his quick thinking and comment that they are glad that Sokwe had sent him. This makes Shujaa realize that he has never demonstrated his ability to think to Sokwe, and he resolves to return and show his leader what he has learned. Before leaving, he promises to help the Lion Guard if they should ever need him again.
===Battle for the Pride Lands===
Shujaa arrives at Pride Rock to help train with the Pride Landers for their assault on the Outlands. He witnesses Scar's spirit arising in the flames of Pride Rock. Afterward, he and the Pride Landers resolve to defeat Scar once and for all by invading the Outlands, defeating his army, and using Kion's Roar to destroy Scar.
During the battle, Shujaa throws a large rock at Dogo, Kijana, and their brothers. The Pride Landers ultimately win the battle.
==Notable gorillas==
* Hafifu
* Majinuni
* Shujaa
* Sokwe
==Appearances==
Category:Canon articles
Category:Species