Ep. 61 Feral Children: How Mysterious Wild Children Dot the Pages of Our History Books

History Fix

This week I tell the stories of 9 feral children found surviving alone in the wilderness. Some even appear to have been cared for by wild animals - wolves, bears, dogs, and monkeys. Most walked on all fours, ate raw meat, and could only communicate in grunts, growls, and "wild cries." Some would never gain the ability to speak, burying their backstories in mystery to this day. Feral children have always fascinated us. Legends and myths are full of them - Romulus and Remus, Valentine and Orson, Amphion and Zethos, Moses, Oedipus, Mowgli. In examining these stories, an overarching theme emerges, one that forces us to re-examine what it means to be "civilized."
Sources:

• BBC History Magazine "Raised by wolves: the history of feral children"
• History.com "6 Famous Wild Children From History"
• "Savage Girls and Wild Boys: A History of Feral Children" reprinted in The Guardian
• India Today "During the last century, nearly 50 cases of wolf children reported in India
• History Collection "10 Stories of Feral Children You Won't Find in Your History Books"
• University of Cambridge "The adventures of Sir Kinelm Digby: 17th century pirate, philosopher, and foodie"
• History Uncovered "Dina Sanichar"
• Daily Mail "Man raised by pack of stray dogs..."

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