In an Indian palace, the Maharajah was awaiting the arrival of Duke Kamal who was just returning from a visit to the jungles of Borneo.
Soon, a trumpet sounded and Kamal arrived at the palace.
"Your Highness," he said to the Maharajah. "I've brought you a gift."
The servants who accompanied Kamal to Borneo and back walked in carrying a cage with a young orangutan inside.
"He'll make a great addition to my menagerie," said the Maharajah. "Excellent work, Kamal! Oh, and while you and your servants were away, Abanusa had three cubs. They were born about two months ago."
Abanusa was the Maharajah's female black panther who lived in his menagerie.
The Maharajah brought in one of the panther cubs. "This one is my favorite. His name is Bagheera."
"He's a fine cub," said Kamal. "I'm sure he'll grow up to be a fine big cat."
The Maharajah brought Bagheera back to his cage in the menagerie with his mother and siblings. And his new orangutan was brought into his own new cage, near the panther cage.
"Mother, I think we have a new neighbor," Bagheera said.
"Hey, there," the young orangutan greeted Bagheera and his family. "The name's Louie. I come from the jungle of Borneo. I've never been this close to humans before."
"What's it like living in the jungle?" Bagheera asked.
"I lived in the jungle when I was a cub like you," his mother told him. "There's a lot of space to run around. It's much bigger than here. Here, we're just cooped up in our cages without much room to run. But I remember what it was like to live in the jungle. It was beautiful."
"But I sure am impressed with these humans," interrupted Louie. "They're a lot like me. They have hands and thumbs and they can do a lot of stuff. I wish I could be like them."
"But humans put us in here for their own pleasure," said Bagheera.
"These humans do give us very little space," said Abanusa.
"I would love to go to the jungle," said Bagheera. "I hope I can go there someday."
A few months later, Bagheera's mother died. His siblings were sold to other zoos and menageries, so Bagheera was now in his cage all alone. He was lonelier than ever. But Louie being in the cage nearby helped provide him some company.
"Hey, Bagheera," Louie said, "I've got a plan. You and I are going to the jungle."
"How can we do that?" asked Bagheera.
"When the master comes by to feed us I'll grab the keys from him. Then I'll use them to break us out of here. Wouldn't you like that?"
"Well, I do miss my family and I feel very lonely," said Bagheera. "And I would really love to see the jungle. Okay! If you think you can break up out of here, I'm in."
After they were fed that afternoon, Louie grabbed the keys from Kamal without him noticing. When he was gone, Louie unlocked his cage using the key and got out. Then he went over to Bagheera's cage and let him out.
"Let's go to the jungle," said Louie. And soon he and Bagheera were on their way. The two of them traveled several miles until they came to the jungle.
They soon met many animals in the jungle, including Baloo the sloth bear cub, Hathi the Indian elephant calf, Kaa the young Indian python, and Shere Khan the Bengal tiger cub. This group of young jungle animals would have many adventures together.