The 70-year-old found out about the Covid-19 last year, on one of the few visits to town. The virus “does not choose, it will come here too, in my cave (…) I tell all citizens to get vaccinated, each of them,” he expresses.
Nearly 20 years ago, Panta Petrovic turned social distancing into her lifestyle, moving to a small cave in Serbia to avoid contact with society.
Last year, on one of his visits to the village, the man with braids and a long beard discovered that there was a pandemic. When the covid-19 vaccines appeared, he was inoculated and now urges everyone to do the same.
The virus “does not choose, it will come here too, in my cave,” the 70-year-old told AFP in the forested mountain of Stara Planina in southern Serbia.
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The cave where Petrovic lives can only be reached after a steep climb, and is not for weak hearts.
It is equipped with a rusty bathtub that he uses as a toilet, some benches and a hay bale that serves as his bed.
Petrovic comes from the neighboring town of Pirot, where he worked as a laborer on the black market, as he did abroad for some time. He married several times, in a lifestyle he considers “frantic.”
The virus “don’t choose, it will come here too, in my cave,” the 70-year-old told AFP. Photo: AFP
This nature lover gradually discovered that isolating himself from society gave him a freedom he had never known before.
“I was not free in the city. There is always someone in your way, arguing with the woman, the neighbors or the police,” Petrovic told AFP as he peeled some vegetables for lunch.
“No one bothers me here,” he added with a smile that revealed his sloppy teeth.
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damn money
Petrovic usually feeds on mushrooms and fish that he pulls out of a nearby creek, but also goes down to the city in search of leftovers in landfills.
His visits to the city have become more frequent lately.
After the wolves killed some of the animals he had near the cave, Petrovic decided to move them to a hut he erected on the outskirts of the village where he believes they will be safe.
He had several goats, chickens, about 30 dogs and cats and his favorite, an adult wild boar named Mara.
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When Petrovic found her eight years ago she was a piglet trapped in the bushes, and cared for her until she recovered.
Now, the intimidating 200-pound creature plays in the break and eats apples from Petrovic’s hand.
“She’s everything to me, I love her and she listens to me. There’s no money for me to be able to buy something like that, a real pet,” she commented.
He also has three kittens whose mother was killed by a wolf, and now feeds them with a syringe.
Petrovic receives social assistance, but also depends on food donations and animal supplies. Photo: AFP
When the vaccines were available, it was rolled up and put on.
Petrovic said he does not understand the complaints made by some skeptics, and says he believes in a process that seeks to eradicate disease.
“I want to receive all three doses, including the additional one, I call on all citizens to get vaccinated, each of them,” he expressed.
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Before isolating himself, Petrovic gave all the money he had to the community, by financing the construction of three small bridges in the village.
“Money is a curse, it hurts people. I don’t think anything corrupts people like money,” Petrovic said.
On one of the bridges, Petrovic built a dovecote which he, in spite of his advanced age, climbs to leave crumbs of bread which he collects by rummaging in the dumps.