Rediscovering Civilization: The Wild Journey of Spain's 'Mowgli'

For 12 years, Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja lived in the jungles of Spain, alongside wolves who became his closest companions. He was discovered by Spanish authorities at the age of 19 and underwent resocialization to instill human values and social norms. However, according to Spain's 'Mowgli,' he never truly integrated back into civilization.

In an interview with BBC, 72-year-old Rodríguez reflects that being captured was the moment his life changed irreparably, losing the sense of freedom he had experienced living with wolves. The boy raised in the Sierra Morena mountains, found half-naked and communicating in wolf-like ways, struggled to adapt.

Rodríguez's mother died when he was three, and his father abandoned him, sending him to the mountains to herd sheep under an old shepherd who taught him survival skills. When his mentor disappeared, presumed dead, the young boy was left on his own at age seven.

As incredible as his story sounds, he grew up with wolf cubs ("they accepted me as a brother") and shared his cave shelter with snakes, deer, and bats. "One day I went into the cave, played with the wolf cubs and fell asleep. Later, when I woke up, I saw their mother had brought them meat. Hungry, I tried to steal some, but she lunged at me with her claws. After feeding her cubs, she tossed me a piece of meat," Rodríguez recounted. "Afraid to touch it, I hesitated until she nudged it towards me with her nose. With trembling hands, I ate."

Returning to Society:"The Noise Was Overwhelming"

Placed in an orphanage, Rodríguez had to relearn basic human behaviors: walking upright, eating with utensils, and other societal norms. Yet, he never felt fully connected to humans, describing them as 'cold.'

One particularly traumatic experience was his first visit to a barber, fearing the razor would slit his throat. Rodríguez never adjusted to the noisy world, saying: "Returning to civilization was my most difficult trauma. The noise of cars and people was too much. I feared crossing streets, blending in."

Months ago, Rodríguez revisited the cave for a documentary on his life, only to find it replaced by luxury cottages. Despite the changes, he still hears his wolf friends "panting and calling between the hills." "You can sense they're there, even if you can't see them easily. There are wolves, and if you call, they'll respond, but they won't approach because I smell like humans."