The young man who gained viral attention in 2021 after fleeing his home to live with wild animals in the forests of Rwanda has undergone a remarkable transformation.
Zanziman Ellie, often referred to as the “real-life Mowgli,” earned this nickname after a documentary about his life in the forest was released on YouTube. The comparison to Mowgli, the boy raised by wolves in Disney’s The Jungle Book, stemmed from his life in the wild.
In the documentary, Zanziman was shown living in the forest, eating grass and bananas alongside wild animals. He had been forced to escape his home due to relentless bullying over his appearance, where he was cruelly called “monkey.”
Zanziman suffers from microcephaly, a condition in which a baby is born with a significantly smaller head. His life took a dramatic turn after the documentary, which led to his reunion with his family.
Now believed to be 25 years old, Zanziman looks almost unrecognizable in his most recent appearance. Documentary creators Afrimax TV launched a GoFundMe page that received donations from around the world, enabling Zanziman and his mother to build a new life together.
Recent footage shows Ellie looking smart in his school uniform and enjoying life at home with his mother. His mother describes his transformation as nothing short of a “miracle.”
The donations funded his education at a special needs school at the Ubumwe Community Centre in Rwanda. Zanziman’s mother expressed her gratitude: “God is a miracle worker. He was ridiculed, and I often had to run after him. Now, he is in school with his peers, and I am so happy. My son is having a good life, well-wishers have built me a house… my sorrow has been taken away.”
In an updated video, Zanziman and his mother are seen in their new home, where Zanziman has his own bedroom. His mother shared, “We used to live in an old house that was about to collapse. I never imagined my wishes would come true. This house has everything to make it a home. This is heaven on earth. You’ve given me this device where I see people talking to me (the television). I will never feel lonely again.”
The last update revealed that Zanziman had learned to ride a bike, take care of himself, and even wash his clothes.
