Naked Crawling Boy Receives Behavioral Correction After Public Outcry

The 3-year-old boy seen crawling naked at a Sichuan highway rest area last month has returned with his family to their home in Yunnan Province and is now undergoing behavioral correction, state broadcaster CCTV reported today.

The incident, which occurred on October 15 during a family road trip, sparked a national online outcry after the video went viral. The footage of the child, identified as Pingping, led to widespread public speculation regarding potential child abuse, trafficking, or parental exploitation for online profit.

In response, a joint task force from Dali Prefecture and Nanjian County was assembled. Officials located the family in Sichuan on October 18 and facilitated their return to Yunnan by October 21.

The subsequent investigation revealed that DNA tests confirmed the couple, Li, 34, and Wan, 43, are the biological parents. Medical examinations found no signs of injury or abuse on either of their two children, and police found no evidence of trafficking or online profiteering.

Regarding the controversial behavior, Li, the father, explained that Pingping's aversion to clothing stemmed from past eczema, though he would seek out clothes when cold. As for the crawling, investigators revealed that the boy's primary playmate was the family pet dog, whom he mimicked. The parents, adhering to a philosophy of "respecting the child's natural instincts" and avoiding words like "no," did not intervene to correct him.

Police found no evidence that the parents were exploiting the situation for online financial gain. Their livelihood comes from past savings from running a guesthouse, farming, and parental support.

The local government has established a special team to provide ongoing family education guidance and sternly criticized the parents for failing in their duties. The children, previously lacking birth certificates due to being born at home, are now having their paperwork processed.

During a recent visit, Pingping was observed communicating normally and showing interest in games and drawing. He has shown significant progress, now willingly wearing clothes and becoming more sociable. Medical reports confirm that both he and his younger brother are healthy and developing normally.

In a written statement, the father apologized for the incident. "Our family's education method has conflicted with public understanding," he wrote. "We are now continuously reinforcing behaviors like wearing clothes and walking properly to prepare our child for school life."