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The Real Life Mowgli; A Female Wildling

Mowgli is one character who fascinated everyone during their childhood. What if there was someone who actually lived their life in a jungle? What if that someone was friends with the wild? How about the wild animals communicating with that person? Tippi was all that and more. Normally, when children looked for recreation with toys or other tiny tots, Tippi played in the forests of Africa with friends from other species.

Lazing around in the sun with a Cheetah, riding an elephant, cuddling with snakes & mongooses, hugging giant bullfrogs, running around with ostriches, playing with leopards and lion cubs – this was a regular day in Tippi’s childhood.

A female Mowgli who prowled in the wilderness of Africa, she spent the first ten years of her life in Southern Africa living amongst the fauna with ease. Her mindset had become so accustomed to that of the animals she spent her time with, that most of these wild creatures considered her an extension of their own.

I don’t have friends here. Because I never see children. So the animals are my friends.

Tippi Degré, born to French wildlife photographers, spent a chunk of her pre-teenage embarking on incredible adventures through the jungles of Africa. Some of her closest friends were Abu the elephant, Mufasa the lion cub, Linda the ostrich, a leopard nicknamed J&B. Despite the closure she shared with these animals, her parents always looked out for her safety. Her parents ensured that all her adventures were chronicled in a book – Tippi of Africa. Tippi later shuttled between France & Namibia to complete her education in cinema studies. Despite all this Tippi still longs to return to Namibia and get a citizenship. Her story amusingly follows that of Mowgli’s but Tippi’s is not ficitional!

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