After throwing Sabor off, Kerchak lies injured and almost helpless as the leopard lunges at him to deliver the killing blow, but Tarzan intervenes, kicking Sabor backward.
He did occasionally show a caring side as when Tarzan was presumed dead after falling off a cliff, Kerchak tried to comfort Kala. Later when Kerchak and the rest of his family are feeding on termite mounds, a herd of elephants comes crashing through their territory, a stampede accidentally caused by Tarzan after he undertook a dare by Terk and her friends in the hopes of impressing them.
However, after Tarzan saved Kerchak and his family from Sabor, Kerchak finally grew to respect him and, by the end of the film, tried to protect Tarzan from Clayton which cost him his life. When Tarzan disappears from sight, having followed the gunshots out of curiosity, Kerchak and the rest of the family search for him. Kala tries to continue pursuing Sabor, but Kerchak stops her, knowing that their son was gone.
With this, Kerchak develops reluctant respect for him. Releasing him, a guilt-ridden Tarzan apologizes for what he did but Kerchak, feeling betrayed and deceived, renounces any respect he held for Tarzan and disowns him completely, scolds him for betraying their family.
Kerchak reigns by violence and fear heightened by his unpredictable mood swings and bouts of madness. When gunshots are heard in the distance, he leads the family away out of concern. He was the leader of the gorillas, the mate of Kala and the adopted father of the film's title character. He then passes on leadership to Tarzan and finally accepts him as his foster son saying "Our family will look to you now. However, Clayton turns his rifle to Kerchak and fires the shot fatally wounding the silverback to the horror of Tarzan.
He then comforts a mourning Kala who believed Tarzan was dead but he was actually unconscious and is still alive. The two children quickly take their leave. Kerchak attempts to protect his troop, only to be restrained. The loss leaves Kerchak and Kala devastated and renders Kerchak a much colder and sour gorilla in demeanor. When Sabor attacks the family and pursues Tarzan, the silverback nevertheless comes to his defense and does battle with the leopard.
Kerchak was a powerful fighter and his massive frame and brute strength gave him the advantage over most opponents. Kerchak appears in the series, specifically in the world Deep Jungle, they were no exception. However, the youngster ends up running into a leopard named Kerchak is then seen during a montage of Tarzan continuing to trying to fit with the group as he grows up.
Angered by his judgmental, unkind opinions of him, Tarzan gets into Kerchak’s face and aggressively confronts him on why he feels threatened by anything he considers different. Throughout most of Tarzan's early life, Kerchak treated him with disdain and disapproval and refused to accept him as his son. Tarzan frees him and after Kerchak expresses surprise that he came back, Tarzan replies that he came home. In the novel Tarzan of the Apes, Kerchak is the "king" of a tribal band of Mangani, a fictional species of great ape intermediate between real life chimpanzees and gorillas. An emotionally hurt Tarzan runs off in sadness with Kerchak snorting heartless but, after receiving some counseling from Kala, endeavors to improve himself and show Kerchak that he can be just as good as any ape. Eventually, Kerchak discovers that Kala is missing (she having followed the cries of a recently orphaned Tarzan) and shows great relief when she returns alive and well.
He catches Terk making fun of him and grounded her and looks down at Tarzan glaring down at him angrily. After staring at Kala for a few moments harshly, he softens his heart somewhat and allows her to keep the baby when she confirms no other humans were present. Eventually, Clayton, who secretly wishes to capture and sell the gorillas for profit, manipulates the situation by leading Tarzan to believe that Jane and her father would stay if they could see them.
Fandom may earn an affiliate commission on sales made from links on this page.Fandom may earn an affiliate commission on sales made from links on this page.His wife Kala, his and Kala's son, Tarzan, Terk, Tantor, Flynt, Mungo, his troop, Jane Porter, Archimedes Q. PorterSabor, Clayton, Clayton's men, Tublat, Jane Porter (formerly), Archimedes Q. Porter (formerly)Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Convinced, Tarzan asks Kerchak is next seen chasing Tantor and Terk dressed as Professor Porter and Jane respectively through the jungle believing them to have intruded.
Clayton, remembering Kerchak, declares that he would be better off stuffed. Before he can shoot him, however, Tarzan arrives reinforced with numerous jungle animals as well Terk, Tantor, and the Porters. Some of the hair on his back is silver because Kerchak is a silverback gorilla (the dominant male in a gorilla family). When Kala, angered by his cruel and horrible words, points out he never gives Tarzan the chance to prove himself, Kerchak openly yelling at Kala and proclaims Tarzan would never belong with them. Kerchak - Shot by Clayton, who was aiming for Tarzan but Kerchak jumped in front of him.
Kala breaks down at the loss as Kerchak attempts to comfort her.