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Is Turk the gorilla a girl?

Is Terk a boy or a girl? Terk (voiced by Rosie O. Donnell) is basically a very masculine female, an arquetype rarely seen in film in general.



Yes, the character Terk (often spelled "Turk" by fans) from Disney's 1999 animated film Tarzan is a female gorilla. In the movie, she is voiced by actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell. Many viewers originally assumed the character was male due to her tomboyish personality, raspy voice, and the fact that she acts as a rowdy "best friend" and "big brother" figure to Tarzan. However, there are several subtle cues in the film and its sequels, including her mother (Kala's friend) referring to her as a "little lady" or using feminine pronouns. In the original Edgar Rice Burroughs novels, the character Terkoz was a male, but for the Disney adaptation, the character was reimagined as a female to provide a different dynamic in Tarzan's jungle family. This gender-bending personality made Terk one of the most memorable and unique sidekicks in the Disney Renaissance era. In 2026, she remains a fan-favorite character, frequently appearing in Disney theme park parades and merchandise as the fun-loving, drum-playing heart of the gorilla troop.

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