Lived with wolves instead of people: famous 'Mowgli' dies in Spain (PHOTO)

Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja, known as the 'Spanish Mowgli', has died in Spain at the age of 80. As a child, after being sold by his father to a goatherd, he ended up in the mountains, where he survived with a wolf pack. He was discovered at age 19, after which he struggled to adapt to life in society.

Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja, known as the 'Spanish Mowgli', has died in Spain at the age of 80. He spent most of his childhood in complete isolation from society in the wild mountains. Marcos was born into a poor peasant family in post-war Spain. After his mother's death and his father's remarriage, his life became unbearable due to his stepmother's cruel treatment. At age seven, his father sold him to an old goatherd. The boy ended up in a mountain cave among wild animals. The goatherd cared for him, teaching him survival skills. After his mentor disappeared, Marcos was left alone and won the trust of a wolf pack by bringing food to their cubs. The predators accepted him, and he learned to understand animal sounds. The Civil Guard discovered the young man only at age 19. Returning to civilization, he struggled to adapt, not knowing money and having speech problems. Later, he worked in the Balearic Islands, where he met an anthropologist who wrote a book about him. In his old age, Pantoja urged people to protect wildlife.