The story of a Portuguese "chicken girl" who grew up in a poultry house

Rudyard Kipling's cheerful story about a boy raised by animals has little to do with harsh reality. In real life, there is practically no chance for Mowgli children to adapt to life among people. One example is the Portuguese girl Maria Isabel. She did not grow up in a wild forest, but in a chicken coop at her parents' estate. Nevertheless, she did not become a full-fledged member of society despite all the efforts of specialists.

In July 1970, a girl was born on a farm in the Portuguese village of Tabua, who was named Maria Isabel Quaresma Dos Santos. He was an absolutely healthy physically and mentally child. Unfortunately, Maria's mother, who suffered from meningitis, was unwell. The woman did not perceive the girl either as her daughter, or even just as a family member. When the child was only a year old, the mother took Maria to the poultry house and left her with the chickens.

Strangely enough, but the rest of the family, the baby's father and her older brothers, perceived what had happened as something natural. For them, the mother remained loving and caring, and no one was interested in the fate of the unfortunate girl in the chicken coop. While all the children played and studied, Maria survived. She ate what was brought to poultry, that is, grain, cabbage leaves and scraps from the family table.

At the same time, the girl was in complete isolation — she did not communicate with anyone. This continued until 1976, when the unfortunate child had a small hope of salvation. One of Maria's aunts accidentally found out in what conditions the girl lives. She insisted that the child be shown to the doctors. It was a very strange inspection, which took place right in the chicken coop, since the girl's mother refused to let her into the house.

The doctors concluded that the child should be hospitalized immediately. They diagnosed Maria with mental retardation and a number of serious mental problems that required the intervention of specialists. Maria's aunt spent months beating the doorsteps of clinics and rehabilitation centers, trying to get her niece for treatment. But no one wanted to get involved with such a difficult and strange case.

It all ended with the fact that the woman was forced to return Maria to her family, and the girl was again in the chicken coop. Doctors are not the only ones who looked through their fingers at the criminal attitude towards the child. The whole village knew that a child lives on a farm with poultry. Journalists investigated this strange situation and came to the conclusion that it was not customary among the villagers to pry into other people's affairs. In total, the locals worked hard and were not too educated.

Maria Isabel's life changed in 1980. Nurse Maria Bihao from the Torres Vedras Hospital clinic accidentally found out about her. The woman decided to save the girl and, having learned the address of the farm, immediately went after her. Bihao was ready for any course of events, but no one was interested in her visit. She just walked into the aviary, picked up the baby and left. Maria's parents, in front of whom everything was happening, ignored this event.

For two weeks the child lived in the house of Maria Bihao. But the nurse soon realized that she could not cope alone, and turned to journalists. The story of the "chicken girl", which is how Maria Isabel was nicknamed in the media, instantly flew around Portuguese publications. The authors of the articles were indignant:

The First Lady of Portugal Manuela Eanes intervened in the fate of Maria Isabel. The president's wife was deeply struck by the story of the unfortunate child and, at her insistence, the "chicken girl" was placed in the best rehabilitation center in the country. The director of the institution was immediately attacked by reporters, to whom he reported the following:

Everyone who could see Maria Isabel was surprised by her behavior. The child did not even know how to cry, since tears are also one of the forms of human communication. Many were frightened by the habits of a girl who behaved like a bird. She moved with small steps and waved her arms as if they were wings. Of course, she could not speak and only made sounds similar to cackling.

It is worth adding that at the age of 10, the girl was severely exhausted, since the basis of her diet was grain. Maria Isabel lagged behind her peers in physical terms — she was shorter than her peers. Her mental development corresponded to the age of two.

Despite the fact that the best specialists worked with the "chicken girl", it has not been possible to achieve positive results for 10 years. Maria Isabel did not begin to speak, but she learned to explain simple emotions and desires with gestures. Doctors taught the ward to sit on a chair, although before that she just jumped on it with two legs.

Unfortunately, these are all the successes that have been achieved. Maria still behaves like a bird — waving her arms and walking with small steps. Experts believe that according to the level of cognitive development, she is now no more than 4 years old. Now the woman is in a rehabilitation center and journalists are not allowed to see her. Therefore, her last photo is at least 25 years old.