History abounds with stories about infants being raised in the wild by animals. From Rudyard Kipling’s’ endearing “man-cub” Mowgli, to the famous twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, who legend has it were suckled as children at the breast of a she-wolf.
So, imagine my surprise when I recently read a story in “The Guardian” about a Spanish man, now in his 70s, who as a 6-year-old child was sold by his father into slavery to herd sheep. He soon escaped into the mountains of southern Spain where he lived for 12 years with his only company being wolves, foxes and snakes. Finally, he was “rescued” by authorities and forced to re-enter the society of civilized people.
This man’s remarkable life story, and his immense challenges to adjust to the nuances and complexities of human behavior, have been the subject of numerous articles and several films. Upon leaving the wilderness he instantly became an overnight sensation, and still has fans who write him or visit from all over the world.
His fond recollections of life among animals, and his struggles to understand the ambiguities of humans have been many an anthropologist’s dream. They make one marvel at the ability of one individual to make his way in a complicated world in trying to regain the experience of being fully human. Share your thoughts about this famous case of nature versus nurture.
© Tyra Manning 2018