A young boy, lost from his Indian jungle village, is found by Father and Mother Wolf in their cave. Though the animals are surprised by the human child, Mother Wolf protects him as her own. Shere Khan, the tiger, demands the child, arguing humans don't belong in the wild, but Mother Wolf bravely refuses. Baloo the bear and Bagheera the black panther support her; Baloo teaches the boy jungle law, and Bagheera offers an ox for pack acceptance. The pack agrees, naming him Mowgli, meaning 'little frog'. Mowgli grows up with wolf cubs, learning jungle ways despite being human. A lasting threat remains as Shere Khan vows to one day destroy the man-cub.