Tom Leppard, a 73-year-old former British special forces soldier, is known as the "Skye Leopard Man" because his entire body is covered in black spots resembling those of a leopard. For over 20 years, he lived in a desolate and remote hut near the coastline of the Isle of Skye in Scotland, leading a "primitive life." As he grows older, Leppard finds it increasingly difficult to live in the wild, and recently he has finally given up his "primitive life" to return to civilized society.
At the age of 73, Tom Leppard, a former British special forces soldier, spent £5,500 in his youth to have his entire body tattooed with black spots resembling those of a leopard, and was once recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "person with the most tattoos in the world."
However, for the past 20 years, Leppard has been living on a desolate and remote coastline near the village of Kylerhea on the Isle of Skye. He often ran naked along the beach, living like a primitive man. Leppard resided in a simple hut with just a plastic sheet as its roof, and his bed was made of polystyrene foam. There was no running water, electricity, or furniture in his hut. He relied on a single gas stove to cook his food. Every week, Leppard would paddle a canoe across treacherous waters to a store three miles away to buy the supplies he needed to survive.
Too old to continue living in the wild
At the age of 73, the "Leopard Man" returns to society
Leppard also had artificial fangs installed, and when he ran naked like a leopard near his hut, he looked like a "leopard man." The "Skye Leopard Man" Leppard became a local tourist attraction, with visitors often coming to his distant and remote hut to see this mysterious "leopard man."
Unexpectedly, recently, the "Skye Leopard Man" Leppard has finally given up his "primitive life" and returned to civilized society, living in a studio apartment in Broadford on the Isle of Skye, leading an ordinary retired life like other elderly British people. This studio apartment was allocated to him by the local government as welfare.
In an interview, Leppard said that as he gets older, he finds it too difficult to survive in the wild. Leppard said: "I am too old now, and I am no longer suited for that kind of life. Every week, I have to paddle a small boat three miles to the store, which is too difficult for me because the sea is rough, and there is always the risk of capsizing and drowning."
No regrets about the "primitive life"
Gradually adapting to the new urban life
Leppard said that he returned to the main island of Skye a few weeks ago on a friend's boat, and he will gradually adapt to his new life in the city. Sitting on a newly bought leather sofa in his new home, Leppard told reporters: "Now I live in an ordinary apartment, surrounded by four walls and a roof, which feels very strange to me, but I will get used to it. I've bought some furniture, and I'm gradually getting used to sleeping comfortably on a bed at night; it is indeed much more comfortable than my previous bed, and I now use electricity, which is extremely convenient. After moving here, all the neighbors have been very friendly, and I will lead a peaceful life."
The "Leopard Man" Leppard said that he does not regret his past hermit-like primitive life at all. He said: "I loved every minute of living there, and when my body was covered in leopard-pattern tattoos, I also became one of the local tourist attractions. Maybe one day I will go back to visit out of curiosity, but I won't live that way again."