Kaa's Hunting facts for kids

Kaa's Hunting is an exciting short story written by Rudyard Kipling in 1893. It's a key part of The Jungle Book (published in 1894) and tells an adventure of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the jungle. This story happens before some of the events in "Mowgli's Brothers" and is the second tale you'll find in The Jungle Book.

Bagheera and Mowgli in an illustration from the Detmold twins' The Jungle Book (1908)

Mowgli's Jungle Lessons

Mowgli is a seven-year-old "man-cub" who lives with wolves in the Indian jungle. His teachers are Baloo the wise bear and Bagheera the clever black panther. Baloo teaches Mowgli the important "the Law of the Jungle". This law helps all jungle creatures live together.

One day, Mowgli isn't paying attention during his lessons. Baloo gently taps him on the head to remind him. Mowgli gets upset and runs off. Bagheera doesn't like Baloo hitting Mowgli. He convinces Mowgli to come back and finish his lessons. Mowgli learns "Master Words" for different animals. These words help him show he is a friend to other creatures.

A Russian stamp showing Mowgli and other characters from The Jungle Book as depicted in a Soviet-era animated film.

The Mischievous Monkey-People

Bagheera is proud of Mowgli's progress. But then Mowgli shares a secret. He has been visiting the Bandar-log, also known as the "Monkey-People." The other jungle animals avoid the Bandar-log. They are known for being noisy, disorganized, and not following the Law of the Jungle. Baloo and Bagheera are very worried when they hear this. Mowgli feels bad for his mistake.

Mowgli's Capture

Soon after, the Bandar-log grab Mowgli! They swing him through the treetops, taking him away. Mowgli sees Chil the Kite flying high above. He quickly uses the kites' Master Word. Mowgli tells Chil to find Baloo and Bagheera and tell them what happened.

Baloo and Bagheera can't follow the monkeys through the trees. They remember that the monkeys are only afraid of one creature: Kaa the giant python. Bagheera cleverly tricks Kaa into helping them. He tells Kaa that the Bandar-log have been saying mean things about him. Chil arrives and tells them Mowgli has been taken to the 'Cold Lairs'. This is an old, empty human city. Baloo, Bagheera, and Kaa set off to rescue Mowgli.

Rescue at the Cold Lairs

At the Cold Lairs, Mowgli realizes the monkeys only captured him for fun. They quickly get bored but won't let him go. When Kaa and Bagheera arrive, the monkeys throw Mowgli into an old "summer-house". This building is full of cobras! Mowgli quickly uses the snakes' Master Word. This stops the cobras from striking him.

Baloo and Bagheera arrive, and a huge fight begins. Kaa is slowed down by a big city wall. But he breaks through the wall of the summer house. He frees Mowgli, who politely thanks him. Kaa then uses his power to hypnotize the Bandar-log. They become still and quiet, completely under his control. Baloo and Bagheera also get hypnotized for a moment. But Mowgli quickly frees them from Kaa's spell.

Once they are away from the Cold Lairs, Bagheera thinks Mowgli should be punished for his actions. Baloo disagrees. Bagheera gives Mowgli "six love-taps" to remind him of his lesson. After this, everything is settled, and the three friends head back home.