Man raised by wolves for 12 years wishes to go back

London: A man raised by wolves for 12 years of his life says human society has failed him and he wishes he were back living among animals again.

The man, Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja was adopted by a pack when he was stranded in Spain’s Sierra Morena mountain range aged seven. He was found as a 19- year- old running around half- naked and barefoot only able to communicate by grunting and brought back to civilisation.

Talking to EL Pais, Pantoja said that he only wrapped his feet up when they hurt because of the snow. Apparently he had such big calluses on his feet that kicking a rock, was like kicking a ball.

However, now the 72year- old lives in a small, cold house in Rante, Galicia, with only a meagre pension after a tough life among humans.

Pantoja believes ever since he was ripped from the cave he called home his life went downhill as he was never fully able to reintegrate. He claimed to have been cheated and abused, exploited by bosses in the hospitality and construction industries, and left with nothing.

Known as the Mowgli of Spain, he said the happiest days were living in a cave with bats, snakes and deer, whose calls he can still mimic. According to his admittal, Pantoja was sent there as a goatherd after his mother died in childbirth when he was three and his abusive father ran off with another woman.

The old man he was training to replace taught him how to use fire and make utensils. — Agencies