# Ok, so what was the gorilla's name in Tarzan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781 "2005-01-26T16:58:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/1 "2005-01-26T16:58:28Z")
The head gorilla, the leader of the pack. Also the adopted mom if anyone can rememembr it. Please? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/2 "2005-01-26T17:14:47Z")
Nitpick, they were not gorillas, they were “great apes”, a species Burroughs seems to have invented for the story. Tarzan’s stepmom was Kala, can’t recall the tribal leader’s name. As a species, the gorillas were called Bolgani. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/3 "2005-01-26T17:15:23Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Nitpick, they were not gorillas, they were “great apes”, a species Burroughs seems to have invented for the story. Tarzan’s stepmom was Kala, can’t recall the tribal leader’s name. > > As a species, the gorillas were called Bolgani. Oh, but I mainly need his name! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/4 "2005-01-26T17:33:20Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Oh, but I mainly need his name! Kerchak? [http://www.literature.org/authors/burroughs-edgar-rice/tarzan-of-the-apes/chapter-04.html](http://www.literature.org/authors/burroughs-edgar-rice/tarzan-of-the-apes/chapter-04.html) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/5 "2005-01-26T17:40:17Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Kerchak? > > [literature.org](http://www.literature.org/authors/burroughs-edgar-rice/tarzan-of-the-apes/chapter-04.html) Whew! Thank you. We are having an argument at work. I win, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/6 "2005-01-26T19:33:57Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I win, thanks! So, do I get a banana or a damsel in distress or something? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/7 "2005-01-26T19:59:41Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > So, do I get a banana or a damsel in distress or something? 🙂 How about some chocolate-covered blueberries? Got some right here! ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/8 "2005-01-27T01:48:55Z")
Are we talking the book or the Disney movie? In the book there was also Terkoz, a rival ape that (if memory serves) took over the tribe after Tarzan killed Kerchak. Tarzan beat Terkoz by forcing him into submission. But Kerchak is probably the answer you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/9 "2005-01-27T02:04:28Z")
I wish a Tarzan movie could be made that was faithful to the book…There’s never been one like that. Some use different elements from Tarzan of the Apes, but none really stick to the whole story as it was written. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/10 "2005-01-27T02:16:58Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Also the adopted mom if anyone can rememembr it. > > Please? Kala, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-what-was-the-gorillas-name-in-tarzan/286781/11 "2005-01-27T02:34:31Z")
Kala, indeed. Note: [What kind of ape was Tarzan raised by?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtarzan.html)