This recent documentary ("Woman Raised by Monkeys") evidences a woman's claim that for five years she was raised in the jungles of Columbia by monkeys.
Is the claim true? Was Marina Chapman raised by monkeys for five years over a half-century ago in the jungles of Columbia?
The documentary focuses on whether there is evidence. The premise for the doubt is that her claim was that she was in the jungle for five years, between the ages of 5 and 10 years old - and child psychologists believe that the claim may be a masking of early childhood trauma. The psychologists interviewed in the documentary stated that the ability to replace memories with artificial ones is strong when there are traumas this young in a person's life.
The documentary then takes the viewer through the process of her family providing evidence for her claim. Her claim was actually a family secret for some five decades, until it was revealed in 2013, followed by a media storm.
The new evidence comes in the form of a study conducted by a forensic anthropologist, who found that Marina's bones showed evidence of malnutrition during her early childhood years - approximately during the period when she claimed to be in the jungle. This was illustrated by hairline cracks in her bones - which has been found in numerous other cases of early malnutrition.
Another finding that confirmed her claim was going into the jungle with one of South America's leading monkey experts. As they traveled through the jungle, she discussed her experience with the monkeys. She discussed how they cared for her and they helped her find food. She also revealed a use of tools - stones to crush nuts - that is not readily known to those outside the animal science area.
The monkey expert came away from the experience stating that while he was convinced that she did not have the experience before he met her, after spending time with her, he is now of the opinion that it is very likely she did have the experience.
He stated that her knowing some of the monkeys' - a particular species - traits, characteristics and activities would not have been available to her from reading books or watching television. It was information that could only have become known through intimate encounters with the monkeys.
What is the implication of this?
This is not the first time a child has been "raised" by wild animals. Other reports of children being cared for by wolves and other wild critters have been published in the past.
But what is significant here is that while we humans like to think that only humans are conscious and have "souls," the very fact that animals have enough consciousness and "soul" to care for a human during their childhood years is evidence that animals indeed have within them, the same characteristics that humans have:
Namely, a living being - a conscious soul.
No, there is no difference between an "animal soul" and a "human soul." Study after study has found that animals make moral and ethical decisions.
Just ask any pet owner: They will tell you that their pet is a beloved member of the family. They see the pet having social needs to love and be loved just as they do.
One of the facts that came out of the "Woman raised by Monkeys" documentary is that these monkeys actually cared for her. They showed compassion for her. They also stroked and hugged her.
Many will say that animals only show love when they know there is a reward for food. But these monkeys illustrated what pet owners know: That animals have the ability to love and care for others when there is no reward.
There was no reward for the monkeys in the forest sharing their food with the girl. There was no reward for them untangling her hair. These are acts of kindness that reflect the fact that animals certainly contain the same element - the soul or consciousness - that humans contain.
And the fact is, these physical bodies we occupy are merely temporary.
