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5-Year-Old Russian Girl Raised by Cats, Dogs
Russian, 5, was locked in unheated flat with animals
By Ambreen Ali
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Posted May 27, 09 2:04 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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Russian police have removed a feral girl from the home where she was raised by cats and dogs, the Times of London reports. Natasha, 5, who mimics the animals rather than speaking, has never been outside her family's unheated apartment. Her grandparents and father also lived there, but she had little contact with humans. She understands Russian but only barks in response.
Now in an orphanage, Natasha is receiving medical and psychiatric treatment for Mowgli Syndrome, a condition named after the Jungle Book character. Such children are more comfortable with animals than people and find the transition to human contact traumatic. Police have questioned the mother and are searching for the father as they investigate possible child abuse.