In The Jungle Book, the panther who protects Mowgli is named Bagheera.
Bagheera discovers Mowgli as a baby and brings him to a wolf pack, where the child can be raised safely. Years later, when the dangerous tiger Shere Khan returns, Bagheera escorts Mowgli toward the Man-Village because he understands that the boy cannot remain in the jungle indefinitely.
The character is voiced by Sebastian Cabot in Disney’s 1967 animated film. Bagheera is the cautious, rational guardian, while Baloo is the relaxed bear who initially believes Mowgli should be allowed to stay in the jungle. Their disagreement drives much of the film’s emotional story.
A common mix-up is confusing Bagheera with Kaa, the python who repeatedly tries to hypnotize Mowgli, or with King Louie, the orangutan leader who wants to learn the secret of fire. The character originated in Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli stories, first published in 1894.