Crocodiles

Crocodiles are a species of animal native to the Outlands and the Pride Lands. They feed on fish, honey badgers, lions, and rhinoceroses.
==History==
===Attack on Kovu and Kiara===
While in the Outlands, Kovu and Kiara wandered into the middle of a swamp and got attacked by a float of crocodiles. Together, they managed to climb up a dead tree to safety.
===Bunga and Kion's trespassing on Pua's territory===
One day, an infant Kion and Bunga intruded on Pua's territory, and Bunga ordered the crocodiles to get out of his way. The crocodiles merely laughed at him, and Pua warned the cubs to leave their territory. Makuu approached Kion and Bunga, and questioned if they were challenging him, to which Bunga declared that he was. Kion leaped to his friend's defense, asserting that if the crocodiles were "messing" with Bunga, then they were messing with him as well.
At that moment, Zazu intervened and informed Pua that Kion was Simba's son. Makuu pointed out that the cubs had trespassed on their territory and challenged them, which gave the crocodiles every right to eat them. Pua agreed and reminded Zazu that Simba respected their ways. Relenting, Zazu climbed into Makuu's mouth and offered himself up in Kion's place. This impressed Pua and ultimately convinced him to let Kion and Bunga go.
===Makuu's invasion of Big Springs===
Pua approached Big Springs and asked Basi if there were enough fish for the crocodiles to eat, but Basi informed him that they should wait a week. Though Pua accepted Basi's advice, Makuu questioned why crocodiles should listen to a hippopotamus and accused Pua of being afraid of Basi. He then called for a mashindano, and Pua accepted.
At sunset, Makuu and Pua held their mashindano, and Makuu won. After the fight, Simba accepted Makuu as the new crocodile leader and thanked Pua for his wise leadership. The crocodiles then departed the area with Makuu in the lead.
Shortly after the mashindano, Makuu invaded Big Springs, and many different species of animals were forced from their habitats. Upon catching wind of the situation, Kion led the Lion Guard to Big Springs and ordered Makuu to leave. Makuu, however, refused to back down unless Kion challenged him to a fight. Though Kion nearly used the Roar of the Elders in anger, he backed off and decided to think of a non-violent solution.
After some reflection, Kion confronted Makuu once more and this time demonstrated the Roar of the Elders on a nearby grove of trees. Intimidated, Makuu agreed to lead his float out of Big Springs. As the crocodiles left, Basi invited them to return once the fish population had increased.
===Attack on Beshte and Mtoto===
While fleeing Janja's clan, Beshte and Mtoto attempted to sneak past a float of crocodiles. The float spotted them and moved in for an attack, but Mtoto used his trunk to fend them off. Afterward, Beshte knocked the hyenas into the water, and the crocodiles chased them instead.
===Makuu's invasion of the Flood Plains===
Upon overhearing Kion admit that he should never use the Roar of the Elders again, Makuu schemed to invade the Flood Plains. Alongside his fellow crocodiles, Makuu chased the other Pride Landers out of the Flood Plains and claimed the territory for his float.
Beshte, Bunga, and Fuli confronted Makuu over his invasion, but he merely mocked them for having a leader who was too afraid to use the Roar. The three friends attempted to take on Makuu and his crocodiles but got overwhelmed and surrounded in the midst of the water. At that moment, Kion, Nala, and Ono arrived, and Kion reminded Makuu that the Flood Plains did not belong to him. While Kion and Makuu were talking, two crocodiles knocked Nala into the water, and Makuu's float surrounded her. Kion nearly used the Roar in anger, but Nala encouraged him to trust himself, and so he instead used precise blasts to blow the crocodiles out of the Flood Plains.
===Attack on Basi and Beshte===
While making hippo lanes, Basi and Beshte overheard a young rhino crying for help and followed the voice to where he was stuck in the reeds. Makuu and one of his crocodiles attempted to attack the young rhino, but Beshte intervened and reminded Makuu that the Flood Plains were a safe zone after a rainstorm. Basi supported Beshte's claim, and Makuu lamented how hippopotamuses were always following the rules. Unwilling to fight both Basi and Beshte, he and his fellow crocodile left.
Later, when an injured Basi was alone in the hippo lanes, Makuu and his float advanced on him and attempted to eat him. Just then, Beshte arrived in his father's defense and led Basi into the hippo lanes. Makuu and his crocodiles took chase, only for Basi and Beshte to lead them straight into the path of a sable antelope herd. After being trampled, the crocodiles gave up and swam away.
===Attack on Kifaru and Mwenzi===
When Mwenzi landed in a tree near a marsh, Ono warned him that Makuu and his float frequented the area. Before long, Makuu spotted the two birds and attacked Mwenzi, injuring his wing. After helping Mwenzi reach a branch above Makuu's head, Ono vowed to fetch help.
While Ono was gone, Makuu attempted to knock Mwenzi from the tree. Eventually, he leaped out of the water and snapped at the branch that Mwenzi was standing on, breaking off a large chunk of it. Just then, Kifaru arrived in Mwenzi's defense and charged at Makuu, only to run into a tree stump instead. Turning his attention to the larger prey, Makuu summoned his float, and the crocodiles advanced on Kifaru.
Before Makuu's float could harm Kifaru, the Lion Guard arrived, and Kion ordered Makuu to back off. Together, Kifaru, Mwenzi, and the Lion Guard fought off the crocodiles, and they retreated into the marsh.
===Savannah Summit===
Simba invited several key Pride Lander leaders, including Makuu, to the Savannah Summit. Upon learning that Makuu was heading toward Pride Rock, Kion intercepted and attacked him, as he believed that Makuu intended to ruin the Summit. Simba chastised Kion for his impulsive behavior and clarified that he had invited Makuu. Makuu added that he appreciated the invitation and took his responsibility as crocodile leader very seriously. Though the other Pride Lander leaders were doubtful of Makuu's intentions, Simba and Zazu encouraged them to be cooperative and fair.
During the Summit, Makuu attempted to negotiate with Bupu, but Bupu accused Makuu of deception and attacked him. The Lion Guard intervened, and Kion blamed Makuu for the incident. Not wanting to cause any trouble, Makuu backed off.
Later, Mtoto overhead Makuu speaking with Bupu at Pride Rock. Once more, Kion assumed that Makuu was harboring bad intentions, and so, he tackled him in an attempt to save Bupu's life. Furious, Simba explained that Bupu and Makuu were negotiating. Though Simba tried to reinitiate the negotiations, Makuu refused and asked how he could trust the other Pride Landers if they did not trust him.
At sunset, the Lion Guard confronted Makuu in Mizimu Grove and warned him that someone had set a trap for him. No sooner had they said this when Makuu nearly fell into a pit of rotten fruit, and the Lion Guard pulled him to safety. After the rescue, Makuu thanked them for their help, and Kion devised a plan to pinpoint who was behind the plot.
At Mizimu Grove, Kion announced to the Summit that Makuu had fallen into the pit and lost his life. Horrified and ashamed, Twiga and Vuruga Vuruga revealed that they were responsible for the trap. At that moment, Makuu showed himself to the other Pride Landers and explained that he had joined the Summit in an attempt to help his float and the Pride Lands but had received only hostility in return. Instead of being angry, however, he prompted for the Summit to go on. With negotiations reinitiated, the Pride Landers acted more graciously toward Makuu.
===Disrupted hibernation===
The Lion Guard supervised Makuu's float as they entered a cave for hibernation.
While the crocodiles were hibernating, Ono advised the Lion Guard to drive a stampede of sable antelope into a canyon. In doing so, the team inadvertently awoke Makuu's float, who were sleeping underground nearby. Upon confronting the Lion Guard, Makuu confirmed that crocodiles could not return to deep sleep after being awoken and explained that they required lots of water to survive. He then asked Kion where they could find water, and Kion decided to bring him before Simba. In Makuu's absence, Kiburi seized control of the float and resolved to take the Pride Lands' water by force.
At Pride Rock, Kion, Makuu, and Simba discussed the crocodiles' situation. During the conversation, Kion advised that they send Ono to scout out the least crowded water hole in the Pride Lands, and Simba agreed to the idea. Ono did as requested, only to discover that the crocodiles had invaded water holes all over the Pride Lands. Simba turned on Makuu, but Makuu clarified that whoever was leading his float was doing so in direct defiance of his orders. Though Makuu wished to deal with his float himself, Simba insisted that the Lion Guard handle the situation, and Makuu reluctantly acquiesced.
Together, the Lion Guard confronted Kiburi and ordered him to leave the water hole that he had invaded. Before long, Makuu and Simba arrived, and Simba explained that they had located a water hole for the crocodiles. However, when the crocodiles arrived at their new water hole, Kiburi complained that it was unacceptable. When Makuu argued that the water hole was their fair share of the Pride Lands' water, Kiburi called for a mashindano, and Makuu accepted.
===Kiburi's banishment===
Upon learning about the mashindano between Kiburi and Makuu, Scar instructed Ushari to convince Kiburi that he could rule the Pride Lands. At sunset, the Pride Landers gathered at Lake Matope for the mashindano. Shortly before the event, Ushari spoke privately with Kiburi, who agreed to use the mashindano as a distraction to assassinate Simba.
As the mashindano began, Kiburi's lackeys attempted to ambush Simba. However, Ono noticed their activities and alerted the rest of the Lion Guard to the situation. Before Kiburi's lackeys could harm Simba, the Lion Guard intervened and fought them off. At the same moment, Makuu beat Kiburi in the mashindano. Despite his loss, Kiburi gloated to the Pride Landers that his followers had killed King Simba and that he was the new ruler of the Pride Lands.
Just then, Simba revealed himself, and Makuu asserted that he had not been involved in Kiburi's plot. Simba deferred Kiburi's punishment to Makuu, but Makuu declared that Kiburi was no longer a part of his float and thus no longer under his jurisdiction. In Makuu's stead, Simba banished Kiburi from the Pride Lands. Along with his followers, Kiburi traveled to the Outlands, where he cornered Ushari and blamed him for his banishment. Ushari, in turn, led Kiburi to Scar, who recruited him and his followers for the Army of Scar.
Meanwhile, Ono apologized to Makuu for having awoken his float. Though Makuu at first seemed enraged, he forgave Ono, and Kion explained that he had told Makuu how Ono had foiled Kiburi's plot. Simba asked Makuu if this was the new "crocodile way," and Makuu conceded that perhaps it was.
===Kiburi's attack on Makuu's watering hole===
One day, the Lion Guard noticed Makuu's float fighting and attempted to intervene. However, Hodari informed them that the crocodiles were simply sparring, and Kion apologized to Makuu for the misunderstanding. With the Lion Guard placated, Makuu ordered his float to continue practicing. From afar, Hodari admired the crocodiles' techniques and confessed to Beshte that it was his dream to join a crocodile float as an honorary crocodile.
Just then, a herd of cape buffalo stampeded toward Makuu's watering hole, and Makuu ordered his float to reach higher ground. As the cape buffalo ran past, they caused a rockslide, and Makuu got injured trying to save one of his crocodiles from a falling rock. Once the stampede had passed, Kion checked on Makuu, who replied that his float was safe.
The Lion Guard started to leave, only for Hodari to stop Beshte and explain that Makuu might need extra help since he was injured. Beshte encouraged Hodari to ask Makuu for permission to join his float, and Hodari did so. To his dismay, Makuu merely laughed at him and claimed that a gecko joining a crocodile float was "ridiculous." Devastated, Hodari fled. Unbeknownst to Hodari, Shupavu and Njano had witnessed the scene and were plotting to use his friendship with the Lion Guard to their advantage.
Together, Shupavu and Njano confronted Hodari and advised him to join Kiburi's float instead of Makuu's. While Shupavu remained with Hodari, Njano ran ahead and told Kiburi that they had a candidate for his float who knew about Makuu's fighting techniques and had connections with the Lion Guard. Though reluctant to accept a gecko into his float, Kiburi allowed Hodari to engage in the traditional crocodile initiation spar and signaled for Tamka to let him win. With Hodari a member of his float, Kiburi led his crocodiles into the Pride Lands.
Before long, Ono spotted Kiburi's float in the Pride Lands, and the Lion Guard confronted them for trespassing. Though Kiburi attempted to use Hodari's friendship with the Lion Guard as permission to be in the Pride Lands, Kion ordered him and his float to leave the kingdom, and he acquiesced. As the float was leaving, Beshte tried to warn Hodari that Kiburi and his crocodiles were "bad guys," but Hodari took it as a personal insult and questioned if he and Beshte were friends after all. Once back in the Outlands, Kiburi questioned Hodari on Makuu's fighting techniques, and Hodari revealed that Makuu was injured.
Meanwhile, Kion warned Makuu that Kiburi's float had been heading toward his watering hole before the Lion Guard had headed them off. Makuu insisted that he could handle the situation, despite Kion's offers to remain at the watering hole, and the Lion Guard reluctantly backed off.
No sooner had the Lion Guard left when Kiburi's float attacked Makuu's watering hole and used the float's fighting techniques against them. In the midst of the fight, Kiburi attacked an injured Makuu. Hodari argued that Kiburi should call for a mashindano, as per the crocodile way, but Kiburi merely batted Hodari aside.
At that moment, Ono spotted Kiburi's attack, and the Lion Guard returned to Makuu's watering hole to defend him and his float. As the fight continued, Hodari insisted that they must help Makuu, and Beshte carried him close to the fight between Kiburi and Makuu. Once he was close enough, Hodari jumped on Kiburi's snout, distracting him, and instructed Makuu to use the wide tailspin move. Makuu did so and was able to defeat Kiburi. With Kiburi and his float incapacitated, Kion used the Roar of the Elders to banish them back to the Outlands.
In the wake of the battle, Makuu complimented Hodari for his bravery and welcomed him into his float. The crocodiles then started up a chant of Hodari's name.
===Sumu's attack on Simba===
Scar plotted with his army to send Sumu the scorpion to sting Simba during the Kumbuka celebration. The plan worked, and Sumu was able to escape back into the Outlands. Upon learning of Sumu's success, Scar ordered his army to intercept the Lion Guard when they entered the Outlands in search of volcanic ash, the antidote to Sumu's venom.
As Scar had predicted, the Lion Guard made their way toward the volcano in search of volcanic ash. Along the way, Kiburi and his float intercepted them, and Kiburi reminded Kion that he was in the crocodiles' territory. Though Fuli told Kiburi to let them through, he instead ordered an attack. Per Kion's command, Beshte knocked into the crocodiles, and the Lion Guard continued on their way to the volcano.
At the volcano, Scar revealed his army, and they cornered the Lion Guard on a ledge above the lava. In order to escape, Kion used the Roar of the Elders to blow the Army of Scar away. In the wake of his army's defeat, Scar declared that the war had only just begun.
===Army of Scar's attack on Kilio Valley===
Per Scar's instructions, the vultures set fire to Kilio Valley. While the Lion Guard fought off the fire, Ma Tembo's herd attempted to escape, only to get cornered by Janja's clan, Kiburi's float, and Reirei's pack. Ono reported the situation to Kion, who opted to save the elephants and leave Kilio Valley to burn. Though the Lion Guard attempted to fight off Scar's army, they soon became overwhelmed by the army's numbers as well as the advancing fire. As a result, they fled Kilio Valley with Ma Tembo's herd, leaving it under the control of the army.
Once the fire died down, the Army of Scar celebrated their success. They began to argue over who had performed best, but Scar interrupted them by manifesting in a nearby ember and ordering them to remain in Kilio Valley. He then revealed his plan to take over the Pride Lands piece by piece. Once Scar had gone, Janja attempted to assert himself as the leader of the army, but Kiburi, Mzingo, and Reirei contested his claim. This caused a fight to break out among the various factions in Scar's army.
===Tamka and Nduli's attack on the Lion Guard===
Tamka and Nduli lamented being uninvited to Scar's meeting. They attempted to find something to eat and ended up running into Thurston. Initially, they planned on eating him, but when he claimed to be an expert on the Lion Guard, they questioned him on the team's weaknesses. Thurston revealed that, were the crocodiles to rub the Lion Guard's tummies, they would fall asleep. Nduli suggested passing on Thurston's information to Kiburi, but Tamka reasoned that they would be invited to Scar's next meeting if they put the Lion Guard to sleep and handed them over to him.
Together, Tamka and Nduli entered the Pride Lands and tickled the Lion Guard's bellies, only for Kion to blast them away with the Roar of the Elders. Back in the Outlands, Tamka and Nduli learned from Cheezi, Chungu, and Goigoi that Thurston had fed them similar unhelpful stories about the Lion Guard. Angered, the Outlanders attacked Thurston, but the Lion Guard intervened and fought them off.
===Hyena Resistance===
When Jasiri learned of Scar's presence in the Outlands, she formed a Hyena Resistance and began sabotaging the Army of Scar's attacks on the Pride Landers. First, the Hyena Resistance targeted an attack led by Janja. In the wake of Janja's defeat, Scar planned an attack on Big Springs and put Kiburi in charge of the mission, but the Hyena Resistance likewise sabotaged this attack.
Eventually, the skinks learned of the Hyena Resistance, and Scar ordered his army to mislead the Lion Guard and eliminate the Hyena Resistance. The plan worked, with the Army of Scar surrounding Jasiri's clan in the Outlands. Ono happened to catch sight of the attack, and the Lion Guard arrived in time to drive off the Army of Scar.
===Army of Scar's attack on Big Springs===
When the Army of Scar attacked Big Springs, the Lion Guard and Shujaa rushed to its defense. Shujaa proceeded to throw boulders and trees at the Outlanders until they retreated. Upon learning of the incident, Scar resolved to use Shujaa's destructive nature against the Pride Landers.
Per Scar's instructions, the Army of Scar began chasing a herd of sable antelope in the Pride Lands. In trying to save the sable antelope, Shujaa destroyed Nyani Grove and incited a cape buffalo stampede. Kion followed Shujaa and used the Roar of the Elders to blow the Army of Scar out of the Pride Lands.
Later, the Army of Scar attacked Big Springs again, this time by setting it ablaze, and Shujaa joined the Lion Guard in defending it. This time, he controlled his strength in order to put out the fire and defeat the Outlanders.
===Army of Scar's attack on Makuu's watering hole===
When the Lion Guard attempted to train the Pride Landers to fight, they struggled to get the various species to work together. Kion appealed to Makuu for help, but he pointed out that crocodiles looked after themselves only. Kion argued that the Pride Landers could learn a lot from how Makuu had trained his float, and he reluctantly agreed to the task. However, his training style proved to be too aggressive and vigorous. Though Kion encouraged Makuu to work with his fellow Pride Landers rather than threaten them, he opted to defend his own territory and left Pride Rock with his float.
Shupavu and Njano reported what had transpired to Scar, who resolved to take advantage of the crocodiles' fraying alliance with the Lion Guard. Under Scar's orders, the Army of Scar besieged Makuu's watering hole, and Kiburi attacked Makuu. Before the Outlanders could defeat Makuu's float, the Lion Guard arrived with their Pride Lander allies and helped the float drive out their attackers. After the fight, Makuu thanked the Pride Landers for their help and vowed to help them, should they ever need it.
===Army of Scar's attack on Dhahabu===
In an attempt to end the treaty between the Pride Lands and the Back Lands, Scar ordered his army to attack Dhahabu. After a failed attack by the jackals, several crocodiles assisted them in a second attempt on Dhahabu's life. Before the Outlanders could harm Dhahabu, Raha and Starehe arrived on the scene and fought them off.
===Army of Scar's attack on Mizimu Grove===
During Makini's mpando mpaya, the Army of Scar attacked the gathered Pride Landers. In the midst of the fight, Scar manifested in a fire and threatened to overtake the Pride Lands. Terrified, the Pride Landers fled Mizimu Grove, while Kion defeated the Army of Scar by using the Roar of the Elders.
===Battle for the Pride Lands===
Over the seasons, the Lion Guard continually foiled attacks on the Pride Lands by the Army of Scar. Eventually, Scar schemed to set fire to Pride Rock, while the Pride Landers resolved to invade the Outlands. The night before the Pride Landers' invasion, Kiburi's float helped set fire to Pride Rock, which allowed Scar to manifest in the flames and implore the Pride Landers to abandon their home.
After the fire, Janja offered to help the Pride Landers, but Simba was hesitant to trust him. Makuu reminded Simba that he had given him a chance when no one else would have and threatened to eat Janja if his information was not useful.
Later, as the Pride Landers invaded the Outlands, Kiburi rallied his float for battle. In the ensuing fight, he took on Makuu. The Army of Scar ultimately lost the battle, and Kion destroyed Scar's spirit. With Scar gone, Kiburi and his float submitted to Jasiri's leadership.
==Physical characteristics==
A crocodile is a large, bulky, four-legged reptile. It has short legs, a long tail, and a scaly hide. A crocodile's coloration ranges from dark to lime green, and it can have black or brown eyes.
==Sociocultural characteristics==
Crocodiles live in marshy areas and require large quantities of water to survive. During the dry season, they hibernate so as to sleep through the water shortage. Once they have been awakened from deep sleep, they cannot return. Crocodiles live in floats and are led by a leader who is the physically strongest among them. Should another member of the float deem their leader ineffectual, they may challenge them to a mashindano, or a contest of physical strength. Whoever wins the mashindano assumes leadership of the float, while the loser is banished from the float.
Crocodiles feed primarily on fish, though they will attack larger prey animals, like rhinoceroses, if in a group. Crocodiles are proud animals who take care of their own and do not like to depend on others for help.
==Notable crocodiles==
* Kiburi
* Makuu
* Nduli
* Pua
* Tamka
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
* In some versions of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King", the crocodiles are gray instead of green. The gray crocodile edit was featured in the 1995 VHS release of The Lion King, Disney Sing-Along Songs (1994 to 2003), the ABC premiere of The Lion King, and the 2003 Special Edition release of The Lion King.
==References==
Category:Canon articles
Category:Species