Abandoned toddler rescued and raised by feral dogs | 60 Minutes Australia

Summary

This script recounts the heart-wrenching tale of Oksana Malaya, a girl abandoned by her alcoholic parents and raised by dogs from the age of three. Her story, marked by extraordinary resilience, sparks a debate on nature versus nurture, questioning the impact of early childhood experiences on human development. Despite her delayed cognitive and social skills, Oksana's progress in a special care home underscores the human capacity for adaptation and forgiveness. The narrative also touches on similar cases, shedding light on the importance of early human contact and the potential for recovery from severe neglect.

Takeaways

• 👧 Oksana Malaya, a Ukrainian girl, was neglected by her alcoholic parents and lived with dogs from the age of three to eight, adopting their behaviors.
• 🏠 The kennel became her home and the dogs her family, leading her to develop dog-like behaviors such as barking and eating with her mouth.
• 🔬 The case of Oksana startled the scientific community, reigniting the nature versus nurture debate and questioning how children develop normally.
• 👩‍⚕️ Oksana was discovered at eight years old, showing severe developmental delays, and was taken to a special care home where she began to make progress.
• 🧠 Psychological assessments revealed that at 22, Oksana had the mental age of a 5 or 6-year-old, indicating the lasting impact of her early experiences.
• 🌐 The story of Oksana and other 'feral children' provides unique insights into human development that cannot be obtained through conventional scientific methods.
• 📚 The case highlights the critical period for language acquisition, suggesting that without exposure to language by a certain age, it may not be possible to learn it fully.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 The experiment by Winthrop Kellogg with his son and a chimpanzee demonstrated the adaptability of children and the influence of environment on behavior.
• 🏡 Another feral child, Janie Wylie, was discovered in Los Angeles, having been isolated and neglected, raising questions about the potential for recovery and learning.
• 🔒 The tragic story of Janie Wylie's life after her discovery, including her institutionalization and loss of contact with researchers, illustrates the challenges faced by feral children.
• ❤️ Oksana's desire to reconnect with her parents and her capacity for forgiveness despite her suffering, shows the resilience and complexity of the human spirit.

Q & A

What was the extraordinary story about the little girl?

The story is about a little girl who was neglected and abandoned by her parents, finding comfort and companionship in the farmyard kennels with dogs, which became her family for six years.

How did the girl's behavior start to resemble that of a dog?

The girl began to act like the dogs as a result of her prolonged stay with them, including running, jumping, eating, and barking like them, due to her lack of human contact and interaction.

What was the impact of the girl's upbringing on the scientific community?

The girl's case startled the world of science, reigniting the nature versus nurture debate and prompting a reevaluation of how children are raised and the importance of early childhood experiences.

What was the consequence of the girl's early years on her development?

The girl, named Oksana Malaya, developed more like a dog than a human child due to her lack of human contact, and she had to learn to eat raw meat and scavenge to survive.

How old is Oksana now, and where does she live?

Oksana is now 22 years old and lives in a special care home where she has been making progress in her development.

What was the mental age of Oksana as assessed by cognitive tests?

Cognitive tests revealed that Oksana, despite being 22 years old, has the mental age of a 5 or 6-year-old.

What experiments from the past are relevant to understanding Oksana's case?

The script mentions the 1930s experiment by American scientist Winthrop Kellogg, which involved raising his son with a chimpanzee to study the effects of environment on development.

What is the significance of the nature versus nurture debate in the context of feral children?

The debate explores whether we are a product of our genes (nature) or our experiences (nurture), with feral children like Oksana providing insights into how early experiences shape development.

What happened to Janie Wylie, another feral child mentioned in the script?

Janie Wylie was discovered at 13 years old, having been kept in isolation by her parents, unable to speak or walk. Despite initial progress in learning language, her development later stopped, and she was institutionalized.

What did Harry Harlow's experiments with monkeys reveal about the need for comfort in infants?

Harlow's experiments showed that infant monkeys chose comfort over food, suggesting that there is a hardwired need for physical contact and comfort, even from abusive parents.

What was Oksana's decision regarding her biological parents after years of being in care?

Oksana decided she wanted to find and meet her parents, despite the abuse she suffered, demonstrating her spirit and the human capacity for forgiveness.