Burnt Orange Report

July 15, 2004

Don't Call him Chicken. Or maybe so.

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Here's one for you sociologists and others into weird stories.

Man In Fiji Raised As A Chicken

A man in Suva, Fiji, is being taught to act human after being raised as a chicken. Sunjit Kumar was locked in a chicken coop for several years as a young boy, after his parents died and he was handed over to his grandfather.

He had little contact with humans during that time and picked up the habits of the birds. Kumar escaped from the chicken coop and was taken to a local hospital. But the staff did not know how to treat him, so they confined him. He spent 20 years there, often tied to his bed.

Kumar, who is now 32, finally got a second chance at life when he was discovered by Elizabeth Clayton, a native New Zealander and president of the Suva Rotary Club. Clayton said doctors examined Sunjit and found no mental defects. Professionals agreed that his condition was the result of years of neglect and abuse.

"He had imitated or imprinted with the chicken," Clayton said. "He was perching, he was picking at his food, he was hopping around like a chicken. He'd keep his hands in a chickenlike fashion, and he'd make a noise, which was like the calling of a chicken, which he still has."

Clayton took over Kumar's care and he has reportedly made "remarkable progress," learning to walk and speak like a human.

Posted by Karl-Thomas Musselman at July 15, 2004 05:43 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Just when I thought MY life was a waste... :)

Posted by: Mike in Austin at July 15, 2004 09:03 PM

Hey - just to interject – I just got this email from another
campaign and thought it worthwhile to put out in the ‘sphere.
If you want, check it out and sign up – we need to turn up the
heat on Bush in all corners.

Thanks!

BullsFan79

-----
From: Craig Kirby, Deutsch for Senate
Subject: We Can Save Lives - Tell George W. Bush to Stop
Blocking American Scientists

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the importance of stem cell research, and the promise that
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cure Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Diabetes, Tay-Sachs, Sickle
Cell Anemia, and Paralysis, their hands are tied by the
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Take this opportunity today to tell the president to stop
his obstructionist tactics and allow scientists to do their
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http://www.deutsch2004.org/petition/stemcell.shtml

This week U.S. Representative Peter Deutsch (D) of Florida
introduced a bill in Congress that would lift the ban on
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the in vitro fertilization process, but only with the
express consent of the donor. At the same time, the bill
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The bill has broad support nationwide. Republicans such as
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mention research advocates like Christopher Reeves and
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However, until George W. Bush ends his divisive posturing,
many Republicans will not support the bill. Send him
a message today that curing illness, not scoring
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Once you've signed the petition, please copy this email
and forward it to your friends and relatives, and ask
them to join you in signing as well.

Craig Kirby
Campaign Manager
Deutsch for U.S. Senate (D)

Posted by: bullsfan79 at July 16, 2004 11:01 AM