Famous Spanish "Wolf Boy" Who Grew Up in the Wild Dies

Marcos was born in 1946 in the village of Añora. His childhood was difficult: the family lived in poverty, and his stepmother treated him cruelly. When the boy was six years old, his father gave him to a shepherd, who took the child to a remote mountainous area and taught him how to survive in the wild.

Soon after, the shepherd died, and Marcos was left alone. The mountains became his home, and the animals — a kind of family. He learned to imitate the voices of birds, deer, and other animals, and also believed that he could communicate with wolves, foxes, and even snakes in this way.

He developed a special relationship with a wolf pack. Marcos fed the wolf cubs, warned the pack of danger, and gradually gained their trust. According to his recollections, the wolves helped him hunt: when he wanted prey, he called them with a howl, and the animals drove the game towards him.

Later, anthropologist Gabriel Janer Manila researched Marcos's life for several months and recorded his memories. Based on this research, the book "I Played with Wolves" was published in Spain.

In 1965, when Marcos was 19 years old, the Civil Guard found him. Returning to human society became a difficult ordeal for him. He took a long time to get used to living among people and later repeatedly said that he was happy in the mountains, and his real suffering began after returning to civilization.

After that, he lived in various places in Spain, served in the army, and worked in hotels and restaurants in Mallorca. People who knew him noted his naivety and that he never became completely fluent in Spanish.

Throughout his life, Marcos spoke about his unusual experience and urged people to protect nature. He especially appealed to children, reminding them that pets need not only food and care but also love.

In 2010, a feature film "Among Wolves" was made about his life. In the same year, Marcos returned to his native Añora for the first time in six decades. Recalling his years in the mountains, he said that back then he didn't know what money was, but he always had enough food.

Since 2001, Marcos had lived in the village of Rante in the province of Ourense. The local municipality bid farewell to him as a long-time resident, noting that he arrived with a story known worldwide and left behind a story that became part of the local community as well.

Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja died on August 15 during a festival in honor of the local community's patron saint.

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