Children raised by dogs, monkeys, gazelle, wolves....

KurtNYC

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Fri Feb-17-06 10:50 AM
Original message

Children raised by dogs, monkeys, gazelle, wolves....

We got 'em all. Stumbled on to this website after seeing an incredible documentary on kids who were "raised" by dogs. This is the stuff of legends (Romulus and Remus) and many of the older stories have little or no documentation but now there are cases with extensive documentation.

http://www.feralchildren.com/en/children.php?tp=0 (scroll down for list of cases)

Beyond the sensationalism, I think the documented cases show just how profound maternalism is. Some of the stories are incredibly heart-breaking:

Ivan Mishukov chose the streets for his home after he was abandoned by his parents (or, possibly, decided to leave the apartment where his mother lived with her alcoholic boyfriend) at the age of four. Ivan Mishukov earned the trust of a pack of wild dogs by offering them scraps from the food he managed to beg, and in return for the food, they provided him with protection from the winter temperatures on the streets of Reutova, west of Moscow, which can reach 30 below zero (Celsius)...

And I never ceased to be amazed at what a blessing dogs are.

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Blue-Jay

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Fri Feb-17-06 10:58 AM
Response to Original message

1. Is there a section in restaurants for monkey-raised kids?

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xchrom

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Fri Feb-17-06 11:00 AM
Response to Original message

2. dogs are our better angels.

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ps1074

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Fri Feb-17-06 11:02 AM
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3. I've seen a documentary about these kids

Very sad :(

Some of them are already 14 years old and they still have difficulties talking and understanding and just doing basic communication with other human beings... Yet, when they see a dog it's like a kid sees his/her mom... Heartbreaking.

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KurtNYC

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Fri Feb-17-06 11:10 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. Yes - makes me question how storng a component genetics are

if a child's behavior and even the strength of their senses (smell, hearing) is THAT affected by environment.

And in some of the stories it is not surprising that they would choose the company of animals over their own species.

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bleedingheart

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Fri Feb-17-06 11:41 AM
Response to Reply #3

5. there is a lot to be said about how important the formative years of

a child's life are...

Language, social skills....all these things are learned very young and if they aren't received at the right age...then it is a disaster.

In all of the documented cases, the children are never able to function properly in society they will have to remain in specialized care for the remainder of their lives.

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