Real Life Tarzan in Uganda- Margaret Canady

Robert Mayanja's story begins in 1985, when the National Resistance Army soldiers found him with his adoptive family of monkeys. Mayanja was raised by monkeys until he was six years old, and it is believed he began to live with them at age 3.

It is believed his parents were killed in 1982 by the war in Uganda. Mayanja was abandoned in the forest, and lived in the wild for three years. When the NRA soldiers found Mayanja and attempted to rescue the boy, the monkeys put up a fight, and one female monkey clutched him and tried to protect him.

Today, at approximately age 33, Mayanja lives in L'Arche Community, a non-profit organization that offers therapy and physiotherapy to mentally handicapped children and young adults. Mayanja, nicknamed "Monkey Boy" because of his inability to talk and the monkey-like noises he makes, has been diagnosed as being an autistic child. Monica Angeyo, the director of L'Arche, says, "Because of his mental disability, he still has to learn about his environment. He needs love and care from us because sometimes we act as his eyes and hands."

The L'Arche community receives most of its income from gifts, overseas donations, rental income, and fees. The community could use financial support from the government, but it seems unlikely; most of the children at the center were abandoned because of their disability, and people often steal from the L'Arche's community's small farm.

It's so interesting that there is an actual account of someone being raised by monkeys! Today, Mayanja still picks up grass and puts it in his mouth, and has the posture of an ape. However, I feel sorry for him, and other mentally handicapped people in Uganda. People, apparently, are ignorant about the handicaps, because they abandon their children! I think the government should not only fund places like the L'Arche community, but bring awareness to the people about mentally disabilities.


Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201302180418.html?viewall=1