Abandoned toddler rescued and raised by feral dogs | 60 Minutes Australia

Oksana Malaya’s Story

Oksana Malaya was severely neglected by her alcoholic parents. From about age three until she was discovered at eight, she lived in a farm kennel with dogs after crawling there for warmth. With little human contact, she learned to imitate the dogs by barking, moving on all fours, and eating like them.

Now 22 and living in a special-care home, Oksana can speak and communicate some of her feelings, though she sometimes crawls on all fours when she feels lonely. Psychologist Lynn Fry says assessments suggest Oksana has the cognitive abilities of a five- or six-year-old. Some developmental skills she missed may be impossible to recover fully.

Early Development and Deprivation

The report uses Oksana’s experience to explore the nature-versus-nurture debate and the ways early environments shape development. It also discusses:

• An experiment by American psychologist Winthrop Kellogg, in which his young son Donald began imitating a chimpanzee.
• The case of Genie Wiley, who was isolated by her family and discovered at 13 with almost no language skills.

Together, these cases illustrate the severe effects of deprivation and the importance of early social interaction and language development.

The report closes by emphasizing Oksana’s resilience and her capacity to trust despite her mistreatment.

Presenters and Contributors

• Tara Brown — reporter and presenter
• Oksana Malaya
• Lynn Fry — psychologist
• Winthrop Kellogg and his son, Donald
• Genie Wiley
• Detective Franklin Lee