Ep 4. Feral Children

Is It Real? is a documentary-style TV show that explores various legends, myths, and unexplained phenomena around the world. In the third season's fourth episode titled "Feral Children," the show looks into the concept of feral children and their existence in different parts of the world.

The episode begins with an explanation of what exactly feral children are - children who have lived in isolation from human contact and have had little or no contact with humans or society. These children are not just abandoned or neglected but have spent years living in the company of animals or on their own.

The first part of the episode takes us to India, where a young boy was found living with wolves in the forest. The locals believed him to be a reincarnation of a god and took care of him. The show interviews the local authorities and veterinarians who took care of the boy and studied how he adapted to the wolf's lifestyle. They explain how he learned to hunt and communicate with the wolves. The boy also learned to bark and walk on all fours, in a display of the strong primal instincts that overtook him.

Next, the show moves to Ukraine, where a girl named Oxana was found living in the woods with dogs. She was discovered by authorities at the age of eight and taken in by social services. However, she had already adopted the mannerisms of dogs and refused to speak. The show interviews her adoptive mother who explains how difficult it was to teach Oxana basic human skills, such as eating with cutlery or using the bathroom. However, with years of therapy, Oxana slowly began to adapt to human life and even developed a passion for music.

The episode then takes us to the United States, where a boy named Victor was found living in the woods at the age of 12. He had spent most of his childhood living with his mother, who suffered from severe mental illness and did not have the ability to care for him properly. After his mother's death, Victor was left to fend for himself in the wilderness, where he learned to survive by hunting and living off the land. At first, Victor did not speak and communicated with hand gestures. However, with time and the help of a psychologist, he was able to learn English and slowly adapt to a more civilized way of life.

The show then moves to Chile, where a man named Marcos was discovered living in the mountains with goats. Marcos had spent over 20 years in isolation and had learned to communicate with the goats and even identify each one by their name. The locals believed that Marcos was a threat to their livestock, but the show interviews his caretaker, who tells us how Marcos was initially hostile to human contact but has since warmed up and learned to trust people.

The final part of the episode takes us to England, where we meet a woman named Genie, who suffered from severe abuse and neglect as a child. Genie had spent the first 13 years of her life locked away in a room, with limited human contact and no social interaction. When she was discovered by authorities, she was severely malnourished and unable to speak. The show interviews psychiatrists who worked with Genie and explain how they tried to teach her basic skills and help her adapt to social interaction. However, despite years of therapy, Genie never fully recovered and struggled with emotional and mental health issues for the rest of her life.

Overall, "Feral Children" is a fascinating and eye-opening episode that sheds light on a little-discussed topic. Through the stories of these children, the show explores the limits of human adaptation and how our social and emotional development is heavily influenced by our environment and upbringing. The episode leaves viewers with a sense of empathy for these children and the challenges they face in rejoining society and adapting to human life.