A feral man known as the "Siberian Mowgli" among Russian media outlets has been found in the picturesque Altai region in southern Siberia, having reportedly been raised apart from civilization by his hermit parents who appear to have recently abandoned him in the wild.
The young man, who is believed to be 20-years-old, was discovered by a local woman living in a hut nearly two miles away from a development, according to local police. The woman reportedly took the man to authorities fearing he would struggle to survive in Siberia's extreme winter that is approaching.
"He has got no education, doesn’t have any social skills and has no conception of the world outside of the woods," said Roman Fomin, a prosecutor in the town of Belokuriha in the Altay region,
Russia's RT TV network reported.
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The Siberian Mowgli label is in reference to Rudyard Kipling's classic, "The Jungle Book," in which the main character was a feral child from central India.
According to authorities, the young man, who spoke clearly, yet with a delayed speech, said he had been living in the woods with his parents since he was for 4-years-old. He recalled his parents telling him that he was born in 1993.
He was reportedly abandoned in May of this year by his parents, who according to locals departed for the island of Sakhalin, off Russia’s Pacific Coast, RT.com reported.
Considering the feral man was not a child at the time of abandonment and he appeared healthy, Fomin said that the parents were unlikely to face charges.
"They only have criminal responsibility if some harm has been done to their child. The most obvious charge could be neglect or abuse, but we have no evidence of this," said the prosecutor, who noted that despite his suggested age, he looked as if he could be 15.
"I am not sure if he needs all this attention," Fomin told
Agence France-Presse. "He looked normal and healthy, he only spoke slowly, since he doesn't communicate as often as most people."
Having never been observed by a physician or registered at birth, the Siberian Mowgli is not eligible for medical or social aid in Russia.
It was not reported what will happen to the man now that he has reestablished a connection with civilization and his parents who raised him are no longer in the picture.
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