Oksana Oleksandrivna Malaya(Ukrainian:Оксана Олександрівна Малая,born 4 November 1983), better known asOxana Malaya,is a Ukrainian woman internationally known for herdog-imitating behavior. Malaya has been the subject of documentaries, interviews and tabloid headlines as aferal child"raised by dogs".[1][2]
Oksana Oleksandrivna Malaya | |
|---|---|
| Born | Oksana Oleksandrivna Malaya 4 November 1983 Nova Blahovishchenka,Ukrainian SSR,Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Known for | Feral child |
Biography
editMalaya was born in the village of Nova Blahovishchenka inHornostaivka Raion,Kherson Oblast, of theUkrainian SSR.According to doctors and medical records, she was a normal child at birth,[3]but was later neglected by heralcoholicfather at age three, and she lived surrounded by dogs.[2][4]When Malaya was found by authorities, she was seven and a half years old, but she could not talk, lacked many basic skills, and physically behaved like a dog. She was running around on all fours, barking, slept on the floor, and she ate and took care of her hygiene like a dog.[3]Malaya was removed from her parents' custody bysocial services.[4]
Malaya was eventually transferred to thefoster homefor mentally-disabled children in Barabol (ruralOvidiopol RaionofOdesa Oblast). She underwent years of specialized therapy and education to address her behavioural, social and educational issues. Upon adulthood, Malaya was taught to subdue her dog-like behaviour; she learned to speak fluently and intelligibly[5]and works at a farm milking cows,[1][5]but remains somewhat intellectually impaired.[6]
In aChannel 4documentary, and in the PortugueseSICchannel documentary, her doctors stated that it is unlikely that she will ever be completely rehabilitated into "normal" society. In 2001, Russian TV channel "NTV"made a documentary about her life.[7]There have been multiple articles about her in the press.
In 2013, Malaya gave an interview on national Ukrainian TV, on the talk-showHovoryt Ukraina,where she talked about herself and answered questions.[5]During the show, Malaya said that she wants to be treated like a normal human being, and is offended when others call her a "dog-girl".[5]She said that she wants her brothers to visit her more often and that her main dream in her life is to find her biological mother.[5]She also talked about her boyfriend, her life in the state foster home and her work with animals on the farm.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abGrice, Elizabeth (July 17, 2006)."Cry of an enfant sauvage".The Daily Telegraph.RetrievedJuly 17,2006.
- ^ab"Oxana Malaya – the Russian feral child raised by dogs".mysteriesunsolved.com.July 31, 2012.
- ^abУ Оксаны Малой нашлись родной брат и маленькая племянница.(in Russian).
- ^ab"Cry of an enfant sauvage".The Telegraph.
- ^abcdefНайкращі серіали Ever."Меня воспитали собаки"[I was Raised by Dogs].YouTube(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon November 28, 2021.
- ^У героини публикации «фактов» оксаны малой, которая выросла в… Собачьей конуре, нашлись родной брат и маленькая племянница, тоже оксана- 2003 follow-up article inFakty i kommentarii(in Ukrainian).
- ^Каталог(in Ukrainian).
External links
edit- Oxana talks about her life on the Ukrainian TV talk-show "Govorit Ukraina" (2013)
- Повторившая судьбу маугли 17-летняя воспитанница одесского интерната оксана малая совсем не обижается, когда ее называют девочкой-собакой- 2001 article inFakty i kommentariitabloid(in Ukrainian)
- У героини публикации «фактов» оксаны малой, которая выросла в… Собачьей конуре, нашлись родной брат и маленькая племянница, тоже оксана- 2003 follow-up article inFakty i kommentarii(in Ukrainian)
- Daily Telegrapharticle
- Animal Planet Raised Wilddocumentary (geo locked)