Feral child facts for kids

Mowgli was a famous fictional feral child from The Jungle Book.

A feral child (also known as a wild child) is a young person who has grown up mostly without human contact. This means they haven't learned how people usually act, talk, or care for each other. These children often miss out on basic things kids learn from their families and friends. Sometimes, people tell stories about them being raised by animals. While some children have been found near animals, there's no clear proof that animals have actually fed or raised them.

What is a Feral Child?
Stories of Children Raised by Animals
Feral Children in Stories
See also

What is a Feral Child?

Feral children often lack social skills that other kids learn by being around people. For example, they might not know how to use a toilet. They might also struggle to walk upright if they've been moving like animals. Learning to talk is often very hard for them. Scientists think there might be a special time when it's easiest to learn languages. If a child misses this time, it becomes much harder. We don't know a lot about feral children because there haven't been many studies about them.

Stories of Children Raised by Animals

Raised by Monkeys or Apes

Lucas (1903): A boy from South Africa who was found living with a group of baboons.
Marina Chapman (around 1954): She said she lived with capuchin monkeys in the Colombian jungle from age five to nine. Unlike many feral children, she later married, had children, and lived a mostly normal life.
John (1974): A boy found in a Burundi jungle living with a group of grey monkeys.
Robert Mayanja (1982): He lost his parents in a war in Uganda when he was three. Robert survived in the wild for three years, likely with vervet monkeys, before soldiers found him.
Saturday Mthiyane (1987): A boy found in South Africa after about a year with monkeys. He was around five years old. At 17, he still couldn't talk and moved like a monkey. He preferred raw food and didn't play with other children. He died in a fire in 2005.
John Ssebunya (Uganda): As a toddler, he went to live with vervet monkeys after his parents died. For two years, he learned to find food and travel with them. The monkeys protected him. When he was about seven, he was brought back to people. At first, he could only cry and ask for food. He has since learned to speak fully and has even competed in the Special Olympics for Uganda.

Raised by Wolves

Hessian Wolf-Children (1304, 1341, 1344): These children were found in the forests of Hesse, Germany.
- The first boy (1304) was taken by wolves at age three and found when he was seven or eight. The wolves had kept him warm and fed him meat. He later got used to human life but said he liked the wolves more.
- The second boy (1341) fought against being captured. He ran on all fours and hid. He refused food and died soon after being found.
- The third boy (1344) lived with wolves for 12 years. He was found in winter and lived to be 80, though some reports say he died soon after.
Hasunpur Wolf Boy (1843): This boy, about 12, seemed to have been raised by wolves. He had dark skin, short hair, and ate both cooked and raw meat. He learned to walk and understand hand signs but never spoke. His parents recognized him and took him home.
Dina Sanichar (1872): Found with wolves in a cave in India at age six. He lived among humans for over 20 years and even started smoking. However, he never learned to speak and had serious difficulties his whole life.
Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja (around 1946): He lived for 12 years with wolves in the mountains of Spain. He was found at age 19. His story was made into a film called Entrelobos in 2010.

Raised by Dogs

Oxana Malaya (1991): An eight-year-old Ukrainian girl who lived with dogs for six years. She was found in a dog kennel. Her parents had neglected her. At age three, she crawled into the farm and stayed with the dogs. She acted more like a dog than a human, walking on all fours, showing her teeth, and barking. She knew only "yes" and "no." As an adult, Oxana has learned to control her dog-like actions. She speaks well and works on a farm, but still has some learning difficulties.
Ivan Mishukov (1998): A six-year-old Russian boy rescued from wild dogs. He had lived with them for two years after running away from a difficult home situation at age four. He gained the dogs' trust by giving them food, and they protected him. He became the "leader" of the pack. Because he lived with dogs for only two years, he learned language quickly. He later studied in military school and served in the Russian Army.
Chilean Dog Boy (2001): A 10-year-old boy rescued after living with street dogs for two years. His parents abandoned him at age five. He lived with 15 stray dogs in a cave, finding food in garbage cans. When police tried to rescue him, he jumped into cold ocean water but was caught. He showed sadness and aggressive behavior. He could speak but rarely did.
Traian Căldărar (2002): Also known as "the Romanian Dog Boy." From ages four to seven, Traian lived alone. He was found at age seven and looked like a three-year-old due to not getting enough food. He had run away from home after his mother left due to a difficult family situation. He lived in the wild, taking shelter in a cardboard box. He had infected wounds and other health problems. When found, he often slept under a bed and wanted to eat all the time. In 2007, he was living with his grandfather and doing well in school.
Andrei Tolstyk (2004): Raised by dogs in Siberia from three months old to seven years. His parents neglected him because he had speaking and hearing problems. He could not talk and had many dog-like habits, such as walking on all fours, biting, and sniffing his food.
Madina (2013): A three-year-old girl found in Russia. She had lived with dogs from birth. She slept, ate, and played with them. Her father left after she was born, and her mother also neglected her. When found, Madina acted like a dog, even chewing bones. Doctors said she was still mentally and physically able despite her neglect.

Raised by Bears

Danish Boy (1619): A 14 or 15-year-old boy found living with bears. He later learned to speak but couldn't remember his time with the bears.
Lithuanian Bear-Boy (1663): This boy, named Joseph, was found in the forests of Lithuania with bears. He was captured at about age nine. He learned to walk upright and eat cooked meat but disliked clothes and never spoke well.

Raised by Sheep

Irish Boy (1672): A boy reportedly raised by sheep. He avoided capture for some time. After being caught at age 16, he refused normal food, could handle very cold temperatures, and still avoided other humans.
Kyrgyzstan Sheep Boy (2009): A 14-year-old boy found living with a sheep flock in Kyrgyzstan. He was raised by sheep for eight years. He couldn't communicate or use a toilet. His parents had left to find work, and he was left with his grandmother, who later died.

Raised by Cattle

Bamberg Boy (late 16th century): This boy reportedly grew up among cattle in the mountains. He was later brought to a prince's court. At first, he acted wild, chasing dogs on all fours. But he eventually got used to human society and later married.

Raised by Goats

Daniel, the Andes Goat Boy (1990): He lived in the wild for about eight years. He was found in the mountains of Peru and was raised by goats or llamas. He walked and ran on all fours with the mountain goats. He drank goat's milk and ate berries and roots.

Other Cases

Kaspar Hauser

Jean de Liège (1644): At age five, Jean hid in the woods during a war. He stayed there for 16 years without human contact. His senses became very sharp. He was captured at age 21, covered in hair, and couldn't speak. He later joined human society and learned to speak, but lost his sharp senses.
Anna Maria Jennaert (1717): Caught near Zwolle. She was kidnapped at 16 months old. She was found unable to speak and surviving on leaves and grass. She was identified by her mother through newspaper stories. She never learned to speak but recognized her mother and got used to human society again.
Girl of Oranienburg (1717).
Two Pyrenean Boys (1719): These boys were said to "run along the mountains on all-fours." They were seen but not captured.
Girl of Issaux (1719?): Lost in the Pyrenees woods at age eight and found at 16 by shepherds. She didn't like human society and wanted to go back to the woods.
Wild Man in the Pyrenees (1723): Caught by hunters but escaped before getting used to human life.
Peter the Wild Boy (1724): A boy with a learning disability.
Another Man in the Pyrenees (1774): Found by shepherds. He was described as kind and cheerful, visiting nearby workers' cottages. He never tried to harm animals and always outran dogs. He was briefly caught but laughed and escaped. He seemed about 30 and was thought to have been lost as a baby.
Another Boy in the Pyrenees (1775).
Victor of Aveyron (1800): Victor was a feral child in the forests of Aveyron for 12 years. His story was shown in the 1970 film The Wild Child, which showed how hard it was for a scientist to help him.
Marie-Angélique Memmie Le Blanc (18th century): Known as The Wild Girl of Champagne. She lived wild in the forests of France for 10 years, from age nine to 19. She was captured in 1731. She was likely a Native American girl brought to France. Marie died in Paris in 1775. She learned to read and write as an adult, which is very rare for feral children.
Hany Istók (1749): Found in a marshy forest in Hungary by fishermen. He was taken to a castle but escaped back to the forest. Later, folk tales said he was a "half fish, half human creature."
Kaspar Hauser (early 19th century): His story was made into a 1974 film. He existed, but his claims of being isolated early in life might have been a trick.
Ramachandra (1970s and 1980s): First reported in India in 1973, at about 12 years old. He lived a water-based life in a river. He was rescued in 1979. He only partly got used to normal life, still preferring raw food and spending time alone in rivers. He died in 1982 after being injured by hot water.
Cambodian Jungle Girl (2007): Said to be Rochom P'ngieng, who lived 19 years in the Cambodian jungle. Her story was questioned by some. In 2016, she left Cambodia with her family and returned to Vietnam. She never learned to speak while living with her adoptive family.
Ng Chhaidy (2012): She went missing in a jungle in India at age four and returned 38 years later. She had long hair and fingernails, making her look like a "wild woman."
Ho Van Lang (2013): Found in Vietnam. His father took him into the jungle to escape the Vietnam War, where he was raised for 40 years alone. When found, he could barely speak a few words. His brother said he was like a child in his development. He died of liver cancer in 2021 at age 52.

Feral Children in Stories

Many stories and legends tell about feral children who were raised by animals. Some famous examples are Romulus and Remus, Mowgli, Tarzan, and George of the Jungle. These stories often show the children growing up with normal intelligence and skills. But in real life, it's very hard for feral children to learn and live with people.