Terkoz has something to tell. His parents died by the time he was about sixteen ape years old. He was loyal to Kerchak, Sagiri's equally screwed up half brother, until reaching college age. Ironically, both were more likely friends with Shina than with Tublat during their youths.

After betraying Tarzan at the same time Kerchak left him behind a few years after the latter betrayed him, Terkoz grew to become a twisted individual like Kerchak, just not as emotionally braindead as him. He killed a lot of animals and human beings like Kerchak did, with the aid of his other mentor Donbas.

But he then sacrificed poor Donbas to jackals, who would rather chew his own legs. Then he switched sides to Naoki, Kerchak's former friend. However, Naoki left him behind, and gave him his starving younger son, Goyat, which he eventually adopted.