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| Meerkats | |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Hair color |
Cream, gray, and red |
| Eye color |
Black and green |
| Distinctions |
• Head tufts |
| Sociocultural characteristics | |
| Habitat |
• Jungle |
| Dominions | |
| Diet | |
| Predators | |
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Meerkats are a species of animal native to the jungle and the Pride Lands. They feed on grubs and are preyed upon by hyenas and lions.
History[]
Timon's self-exile[]
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Timon accidentally collapses his colony's tunnels.
A colony of meerkats lived on the outskirts of the Pride Lands. One member of the colony, Timon, earned a bad reputation for being disruptive and unruly. One day, in an attempt to build a skylight, Timon accidentally collapsed his colony's tunnels, and they berated him for his mistake. Drawing him aside, his mother reminded him that he had caused many accidents recently and reminded him that their survival depended on working together. A frustrated Timon pointed out that all they ever did was dig and hide, then asked what was wrong with dreaming of a better home. In answer, Ma showed Timon the nearby savanna and declared that it belonged to someone else.
At that moment, Timon's uncle Max approached and pointed out that meerkats were nothing but food for other animals. After Ma ordered him to leave, he asked the colony who was on sentry duty, and Ma got the idea to nominate Timon for the position. This horrified Max, who asked sarcastically if she would "save the hyenas the trouble" and just kill him. Ignoring Max and Timon's doubts, Ma instructed her son to watch for hyenas and yell if he spotted one.
The hyenas attack Timon's colony.
As his shift began, Timon listened distractedly to Uncle Max explain how to "scurry, sniff, and flinch." After Max had gone, Timon began his lookout, only to get distracted thinking about his dream home. With Timon not paying attention, three hyenas named Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed snuck up behind him and clapped sarcastically for his performance. They then shoved him aside and attacked his colony. The meerkats barely escaped down their holes in time, with Max even losing the fur on his tail.
Once safe, the colony blamed Timon for their brush with death. Feeling alone and dejected, he admitted to his mother that he would never fit in and declared that he must find his own way. Though saddened to see him go, she encouraged his dream, and the two embraced. Timon then departed to find a new home.[1]
Timon's friendship with Pumbaa[]
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Timon journeyed across the savanna, eventually reaching Rafiki's tree. There, he had an emotional breakdown, and Rafiki approached, asking where he was going. He explained that he wanted to live in a beautiful place that was free of care or worry, and Rafiki deduced that he was searching for "Hakuna Matata." When Timon asked where that was, Rafiki urged him to look "beyond" what he saw. Heeding Rafiki's advice, Timon started toward the distant Pride Rock.
Timon meets Pumbaa.
On his way to Pride Rock, Timon got chased by Pumbaa. Eventually, the two realized that they were not a threat to one another, and Timon became intrigued by Pumbaa's admission that most animals gave him a wide berth. Hoping to take advantage of Pumbaa's physical prowess, Timon agreed to travel with him to Pride Rock. When they arrived, however, they interrupted the presentation of Simba, and Pumbaa's flatulence caused the gathered Pride Landers to faint.
After the incident, Timon and Pumbaa settled in a nearby cave, only to be awoken one morning by Simba, Nala, and their Pride Lander allies. They moved on to the Elephant Graveyard but decided to leave upon seeing a multitude of hyenas. Next, they attempted to make a home at the gorge. However, they got carried away by a stampede of wildebeests and thrown into a nearby river.
Timon and Pumbaa embrace the "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle.
After careening over a waterfall, they recuperated on the shore, and Timon despaired over ever finding his dream home. Worried that Timon would abandon him, Pumbaa confessed that he did not have a home, and Timon realized that they were both alone. He then declared that Pumbaa was his only friend, to the warthog's delight.
The next morning, Timon and Pumbaa discovered that they were in a jungle oasis and decided to take up residence there. While enjoying their new home, Timon tried to recall Rafiki's name for what he had been searching for, and Pumbaa aptly said, "Hakuna matata." The two then embraced a care-free "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle together in the jungle.[1]
Timon's friendship with Simba[]
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Timon and Pumbaa befriend Simba.
One day, while bowling for buzzards, Timon and Pumbaa stumbled upon a lion cub, Simba, who was passed out in the desert. Though Timon was fearful of the cub, Pumbaa pointed out that he might be on their side. Timon started to dismiss the idea as stupid, only to suddenly claim it as his own and declare that having a lion around might not be a bad idea.
Together, Timon and Pumbaa brought Simba to a pool of water and revived him. The cub started to wander back into the desert until Timon and Pumbaa stopped him and asked him what was wrong. He remarked that they could only help him if they could change the past, which prompted the duo to teach him about their "Hakuna Matata" philosophy. Over the seasons, Simba grew up with Timon and Pumbaa.[2] When Simba was an adolescent, Timon challenged him to a snail-slurping contest, but Simba beat him. Sorrowful, Timon and Pumbaa accepted that the cub was growing up.[1]
Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba spend time together in the jungle.
The seasons continued to pass, during which time Simba grew into a young adult. One night, while stargazing with his friends, Pumbaa asked Timon what the stars were, and he answered that they were fireflies that had gotten stuck in the sky. Simba shared that someone had once told him that the stars were the Great Kings of the Past, but this only caused Timon and Pumbaa to laugh at him.
The next day, Timon and Pumbaa were singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" when Pumbaa got attacked by a lioness. Just in time, Simba intervened and realized that the lioness was his childhood friend, Nala. Timon was hesitant to accept Nala, since she had been trying to eat Pumbaa, but Simba urged him to relax. Nala then revealed that Simba was the king of Pride Rock, to Timon and Pumbaa's shock. Wanting to spend time alone with Nala, Simba sent his friends away.[2] Instead of leaving, the duo watched Simba and Nala from the underbrush and even tried to throw a wrench in their blossoming romance. When all their attempts ended in failure, they finally accepted that their friend had left their trio for good.[1]
Battle of Pride Rock[]
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Later that night, Timon and Pumbaa witnessed Simba and Nala arguing, and Timon celebrated the destruction of their relationship. The following morning, however, he learned from Rafiki that Simba had returned to the Pride Lands to reclaim his throne. While Pumbaa and Nala left to help their friend, Timon refused, declaring that he already had everything he wanted in the jungle. He proceeded to spend time alone in his friends' usual haunts.
Timon reunites with Ma and Max.
That night, Rafiki approached, only for Timon to launch into a monologue about how, with his friends gone, he no longer felt the "Hakuna Matata" spirit. Inspired to help Simba, he departed the jungle in search of his friends. Before long, he caught up to Pumbaa,[1] and they met up with Simba and Nala near Pride Rock. As the group snuck closer to Pride Rock, they spotted some hyenas in their path, and Simba volunteered Timon and Pumbaa to distract them. Using a Hawaiian war chant, the duo lured the hyenas away from Simba and Nala.[2]
Once Pumbaa had chased the hyenas off with his flatulence, Ma and Max approached and had a delighted reunion with Timon. Just then, the group noticed Simba fighting his uncle, Scar, atop Pride Rock, and Timon resolved to help his friend. While Ma and Max dug a trap tunnel for the hyenas, Timon and Pumbaa attempted to keep them distracted. When the meerkats' trap tunnel failed, however, the hyenas advanced upon the group, intent on eating them. In the nick of time, Timon dove into the tunnel and completed it, sending the hyenas plummeting to the base of Pride Rock.[1]
Simba's coronation[]
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After the battle, Timon, Pumbaa, Ma, and Max gathered with Simba's pride at the base of Pride Rock. Before ascending to take his place as king, Simba hugged Timon and Pumbaa, and claimed that he could not have done it without them. He then climbed Pride Rock and roared over his kingdom, while Timon and Pumbaa watched proudly. Ma asked Timon if he had found what he had been looking for, and he replied that, while he had found a place beyond his wildest dreams, it had not been home. He then urged her to return home with him.[1]
Timon's colony's move to the jungle[]
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Timon led his colony to the jungle, where they took on a more relaxed, predator-free lifestyle. From that moment on, they hailed Timon as their hero and "the bravest meerkat" they had ever known.[1]
Kiara's presentation[]
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Timon attended the presentation of Kiara at Pride Rock. Afterwards, he expressed excitement over getting to spend time with another male lion cub, but Rafiki pointed out that Kiara was, in fact, a female.[3]
Timon's adoption of Bunga[]
| “ | Pumbaa: Now, can we keep him, Timon? Timon: Can we? The little Bunga got us the most delicious grubs in the Pride Lands! How can we not? Come on, Bunga! From now on, you're with us! |
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Timon adopts Bunga.
During the wet season, Timon and Pumbaa hunted for Utamu grubs near Mapema Rock. Nearby, an orphaned infant honey badger noticed them and latched on to one of Pumbaa's legs. In an attempt to get rid of the infant, Timon told him to fetch some grubs from Mapema Rock, then fled with Pumbaa. Before the duo could get far, the honey badger caught back up to them and presented them with grubs. Though Pumbaa begged Timon to let them "keep" the honey badger, he refused.
Shortly afterwards, Timon and Pumbaa took the honey badger to a tree in which the Utamu grubs were living. To their astonishment, the infant bravely climbed into the tree and fetched the grubs for them. Impressed by the honey badger's pluck, Timon agreed to take him in, and Pumbaa named him "Bunga."[4]
Timon's stewardship of Kiara[]
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Timon frets over Kiara.
Seasons passed, and Kiara grew into a young cub. One day, when she left Pride Rock to play, Simba sent Timon and Pumbaa to keep an eye on her. They eventually caught up to her, and Timon fretted over her condition, claiming that Simba would "kill" them if she got hurt. Though she tried to explain that she was more than just a princess, Timon got distracted by some nearby grubs. As he and Pumbaa argued over which kind of grub tasted better, Kiara snuck away from them.
Later, Timon and Pumbaa joined Simba's pride in confronting Zira and her son, Kovu, for trespassing in the Pride Lands. Timon ordered her to get out of "their" kingdom, and she roared at him, causing him to hide in Pumbaa's mane. After an extended argument, Simba ordered Zira to leave the Pride Lands with Kovu. The two groups then departed, with Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba's pride returning to Pride Rock.[3]
Formation of the Lion Guard[]
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Timon and Pumbaa express doubt over Bunga joining the Lion Guard.
One day, when Zuri got her claws stuck in a log, Timon and Pumbaa resolved to help her. In the middle of the rescue, Bunga approached and startled Pumbaa, who accidentally knocked Zuri off the log. She ended up falling into a different log full of grubs, and Timon and Pumbaa delightedly began to feast.
Before long, Kion caught up to Bunga, and the two explained that Simba had put Kion in charge of the Pride Lands' new Lion Guard. Bunga proclaimed that he was going to join the Guard, but his adoptive uncles expressed doubt at the prospect of unnecessary danger and work. After Kion called Bunga the "bravest" animal he knew, however, the duo relented and congratulated Bunga for his new role.[5]
Bunga's odor[]
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Shortly after the Lion Guard's formation, Ono told Timon and Pumbaa that they had to get rid of Bunga's stench so that animals would not run in terror from him. The duo, however, defended Bunga's smell. Eventually, Bunga's odor attracted several nearby grubs, which Timon and Pumbaa lapped up eagerly.[6]
Bunga the Wise[]
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Timon and Pumbaa popularize the idea of Bunga being a sage.
When Bunga mistakenly believed that Rafiki had called him wise, he informed Timon and Pumbaa. Together, the three popularized the idea of Bunga being a sage, calling him "Bunga the Wise" and forcing animals to pay them grubs in order to get an audience with him. Eventually, the Lion Guard caught on to what was happening and attempted to dissuade Bunga from his delusions, but he refused to rejoin the Guard, and Timon ushered them away from him.
Later, Timon and Pumbaa joined a parade in celebration of Bunga's wisdom. Once more, the Lion Guard tried to make Bunga see sense, but Timon pointed out that Bunga's wisdom was legitimate and pointed to a dam that Bunga had blocked as an example. At that moment, the dam broke, and the animals fled in fear. Though Timon and Pumbaa urged Bunga to come with them, he opted to help the Lion Guard instead.[7]
Kupatana[]
Timon attended the Kupatana celebration.[8]
Bunga's immunity[]
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Timon and Pumbaa fret over Bunga's condition.
One day, Ushari the cobra bit Bunga, and the Lion Guard rushed him to Rafiki's tree. Timon and Pumbaa soon arrived and fretted over Bunga's condition until Rafiki revealed that honey badgers were immune to snake bites. To celebrate, Timon and Pumbaa invited the Guard to share in a feast with them at Hakuna Matata Falls. While the other Guard members were busy, Fuli revealed that she had plans to hunt on her own, and Timon pressured her into coming with them instead.
Once at the falls, Timon attempted to serve Fuli grubs, but she declined. Unwilling to let her go, he began to make conversation with her and discovered, to his delight, that her fur was incredibly soft. Uncomfortable because of Timon's touching, Fuli left the celebration.[9]
Utamu season[]
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At the peak of the wet season, Bunga searched for Utamu grubs to bring Timon and Pumbaa, as was their tradition. However, he accidentally lost them to a chasm. Dejected, he admitted to his uncles that he had failed, but they pointed out that they did not celebrate because of the Utamu; they celebrated because of their relationship with him. Spirits renewed, the trio ate some Utamu grubs that Timon and Pumbaa had found after they "fell out of the sky."[4]
Sinkhole[]
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When Bunga and Simba got trapped in a sinkhole, Kion summoned Timon and Pumbaa to Nandembo Caverns in the hopes that Timon's expertise with tunnels would be helpful. To the Lion Guard's disappointment, the duo merely blubbered over the loss of Bunga and Simba. Eventually, the two managed to compose themselves, and Timon told Kion that he would understand how they felt once he accepted someone into his heart.
Timon and Pumbaa fret over Bunga's and Simba's fates.
As Timon, Pumbaa, and the Lion Guard searched the caverns, they heard Bunga's and Simba's voices and followed the sound to where the two were trapped on the other side of a ravine. Getting an idea, Simba ordered Bunga to climb on his back, then jumped across the divide. Once the two were safe, Timon and Pumbaa embraced them.
Afterwards, the group traveled to Mizimu Grove, where they performed "Hakuna Matata" for Ma Tembo's herd.[10]
Timon's tale of the Zimwi[]
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On the night of the full moon, a group of young animals claimed to have spotted the legendary Zimwi. Pumbaa claimed that Timon was the only animal in the Pride Lands who had survived an encounter with the beast, but Timon clarified that his mother's cousin's friend had known an ox who had been eaten by the Zimwi. Kion questioned how the ox could have told anyone about the Zimwi if he had been eaten, and Timon replied that they would need to ask the ox.[11]
Ukumbusho[]
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On the day of the Ukumbusho Tradition, Timon and Pumbaa arrived at Mizimu Grove to help the Lion Guard practice their lines for the upcoming ceremony. Before they could start, Ma Tembo pointed out that the Lion Guard was traditionally composed of lions only, so Makini painted the Guard to resemble lions.
Timon helps the Lion Guard practice their lines.
Once the Guard had been properly painted, Timon and Pumbaa asserted that they knew more about lions than anyone else in the Pride Lands since they had raised Simba. As they coached the Guard, Timon grew frustrated with their inability to speak their lines while holding the Branch of Peace in their mouths and suggested that they get rid of it entirely. Kion, however, protested that the branch was essential for the ceremony.
That night, Timon and Pumbaa attended the Ukumbusho Tradition at Mizimu Grove.[12]
Christmas[]
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The day before Christmas, Timon, Pumbaa, and Bunga decorated an acacia tree with colored fruits in honor of the upcoming holiday. While placing a starfruit at the top of the tree, Timon fell out of its branches, and Beshte caught him on his back. The rest of the Lion Guard inquired about the decorated tree, and Timon, Pumbaa, and Bunga explained that it was a Christmas tradition. Though Timon expressed enthusiasm over how many gifts were given at Christmas, he soon grew melancholic because the mysterious gift-giver Dandy Claws had never visited him and Pumbaa.
Timon decorates a tree in honor of Christmas.
The next morning, Bunga awoke Timon and Pumbaa, and led them to the Christmas tree, despite Timon's lack of excitement. Once they had arrived, the duo found the Lion Guard and a crowd of Pride Landers waiting for them. The group proceeded to perform "The Twelve Ways of Christmas", which delighted Timon and Pumbaa.
After the song, Pumbaa put on a Dandy Claws costume and proclaimed that he had hoped to make Timon's Christmas better. He went on that he had spent so much time assembling his costume that he had been unable to get any gifts for Timon. Unbothered by the lack of gifts, Timon pointed out that the Pride Landers' song and Pumbaa's costume had been more than enough. The two concluded that it had been their best Christmas yet.[13]
Kumbuka[]
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Timon and Pumbaa attended the Kumbuka celebration at Pride Rock. In the midst of the event, Sumu the scorpion stung Simba's tail, and he collapsed. Timon and Pumbaa immediately rushed to his side and panicked over his condition. Eventually, the Lion Guard brought Simba the antidote, volcanic ash, and Timon and Pumbaa celebrated his recovery.[14]
Makini's mpando mpaya[]
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On the day of Makini's mpando mpaya, Kion asked Timon and Pumbaa to perform for the gathered Pride Landers in an attempt to raise their spirits. That evening, Rafiki and Simba announced Makini's mpando mpaya to the crowd, and Timon and Pumbaa performed "Tujiinue". In the midst of the celebration, the Army of Scar attacked, but Timon and Pumbaa opted to keep singing. Eventually, Scar's spirit manifested in a nearby fire, and Timon and Pumbaa took refuge behind their rock stage. Once Scar had disappeared, the duo returned to Hakuna Matata Falls for some beauty rest.[15]
Kiara's first hunt[]
| “ | Kiara: My father sent you. After he promised to let me do this on my own. He lied! Timon: No... He just doesn't want you to get hurt.
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Once Kiara had grown into a young adult, she readied for her first solo hunt. Timon and Pumbaa gathered with Simba's pride to spectate the event and burst into tears as she left Pride Rock. No sooner had she ran off into the savanna when Simba subtly ordered Timon and Pumbaa to follow her and make sure that she did not come to harm. While tailing Kiara, the duo got caught, and she fled the Pride Lands, furious that her father had broken his promise to let her hunt on her own.[3]
Timon's day with Kovu, Kiara, and Pumbaa[]
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Timon asks Kovu to scare some birds away.
One day, Timon and Pumbaa attempted to chase a flock of birds away from a field of grubs, to no avail. Suddenly, Kovu attacked Timon, who begged for his life. Kiara approached, asking Timon what he was doing there, and he explained that he and Pumbaa had not been following her, but were rather trying to feast on grubs. He asked Kovu to scare the birds away with a roar, to the rogue's confusion, so Kiara lent her voice instead, scattering some of the birds. Kovu then roared as well, and more birds fled.
Together, Timon, Pumbaa, Kovu, and Kiara ran through the birds, scattering them, until they accidentally incited a rhinoceros stampede. They ran from the herd and managed to evade them by hiding in a rocky crevice.[3]
Kovu's exile[]
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After Simba got injured by Zira's ambush, Timon and Pumbaa helped carry him back to Pride Rock. Kovu soon arrived, begging for Simba's forgiveness, but Simba exiled him from the Pride Lands as Timon, Pumbaa, and the Pride Landers looked on.[3]
Battle between the Outsiders and Simba's pride[]
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After Kovu's exile, Kiara fled Pride Rock, and Timon and Pumbaa blamed one another for having failed to watch her. At that moment, Simba approached, and Timon evasively revealed that Kiara had vanished. Before Simba could react, Zazu arrived with news that the Outsiders were attacking the Pride Lands. As one, Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba's pride faced off against the Outsiders in battle. During the fight, some lionesses cornered Timon and Pumbaa against a rock wall, but Timon threatened to spray them with Pumbaa's flatulence, which caused them to flee.[3]
Marriage of Kovu and Kiara[]
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Timon attended Kovu and Kiara's wedding, during which he and Pumbaa sobbed emotionally over the event.[3]
Battle of the Lion Guards[]
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Timon and Pumbaa watched the Battle of the Lion Guards, specifically Bunga's and Fuli's challenges. They also witnessed the final contest, in which Kion relinquished his role as the leader of the Lion Guard to Vitani. When Kion used the Roar of the Elders to lift Pride Rock, they reacted with awe.[16]
Kion's coronation[]
Timon and Pumbaa attended Kion's wedding to Rani at the Tree of Life.[16]
Physical characteristics[]
Meerkats tend to be tall, thin, and spindly. They typically have cream pelts, with brown feet, brown stripes on their backs, and brown tail tips. Most meerkats have a head tuft, which can vary in color, the most common shade being brown or red. Older meerkats have gray head tufts. Their eyes can be black or green.[1]
Sociocultural characteristics[]
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Meerkats live in groups called colonies. They are quite fearful and skittish, and rely on one another for survival. Meerkat colonies tend to split their duties between tunneling and acting as sentries. They are known to eat grubs. According to Max, they are unable to digest grass. Meerkats have many predators, including hyenas and lions.[1]
Notable meerkats[]
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- In the canon, meerkats are anthropomorphic, as they walk on two legs.[2][3][1] However, real meerkats can only stand on two legs.[17]
- The selfish meerkat is the only known meerkat to have whiskers.[18]
References[]
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