🌲 Born off the grid with no ID, no electricity, and no ties to society, “Mowgli of Altai” Orzhan Naumkin spent 20 years hidden in the Siberian wilderness—until his parents disappeared without a trace 😱 Forced into the modern world, he’s now building a life with a steady job and a girlfriend. Full story in the article below 👇
Back in 2013, the story of a young man named Orzhan Naumkin stunned the media. Nicknamed the “Mowgli of Altai,” Orzhan had lived his entire childhood and teenage years deep in the forest, far from modern civilization. Now, years later, his life has taken a very different path.
Orzhan was born and raised in the remote Siberian taiga near the Belokurikha resort area. His parents, believers in esoteric teachings and alternative lifestyles, had left their city life in Biysk during the 1990s and built a modest dugout home in the wilderness. The house had no plumbing or electricity, just a wood stove, a small table, and the bare essentials. They bathed in the river during summer and on a plastic-covered dirt floor inside during the winter.
Determined to keep their future child away from what they saw as a corrupt society, Orzhan’s parents kept his birth a secret. He had no official documents—no birth certificate, no passport, no registration. To the outside world, he didn’t exist.
Despite their isolation, Orzhan wasn’t left in the dark intellectually. His mother, a former teacher, and his father, a writer, homeschooled him. By the age of five, he could read and write fluently. He learned from textbooks, listened to the radio, and developed artistic skills like drawing and wood carving.
The family lived off their vegetable garden and occasionally earned income by selling berries or handmade crafts in the nearby town. But for the most part, they stayed away from people—and the world stayed away from them.
Things took a dramatic turn when Orzhan turned 20. Tensions with his parents had been building for some time. One day, they simply disappeared, leaving him a note asking him not to follow them and to take care of the homestead. Alone and confused, Orzhan finally reached out to local authorities and told them everything.
Although the search for his parents turned up nothing, Orzhan’s story spread fast. Media outlets rushed to interview him, and filmmakers documented his experience. After a brief brush with fame, his parents reappeared—but Orzhan made it clear he didn’t want to return to their secluded life.
Trying to adapt to modern society was a steep climb. He enrolled in bartending classes in Belokurikha and opened a coffee shop, but his business quickly failed. He moved to Novosibirsk, only to be scammed by a landlord and underpaid by an employer. Still determined to find his place, Orzhan set his sights on Moscow.
City life was overwhelming at first. Job hunting was frustrating and slow. He struggled with technology—typing on a phone felt awkward, and using a computer keyboard was a challenge due to the unfamiliar letter layout. Financial pressure built up, and he fell into debt from small loans and credit obligations.
But over time, things began to change.
Orzhan landed a job as a bartender in a Moscow restaurant, where he now earns a stable income of around 60–70 thousand rubles a month. He’s in a relationship with a woman named Valeria, and the two are planning a future together. He still visits his parents once a year but has no desire to return to their former way of life.
Now in his 30s, Orzhan reflects on his unusual upbringing with gratitude—but no nostalgia. Life in isolation gave him strength and perspective, but today, he feels at home in the city, where he’s building a life on his own terms.
What would you have done in Orzhan’s place—embrace the wilderness or take your chances in the city? Share your thoughts in the comments!
