Sentence:  The intolerance which was directed towards us during the early years has now shifted to ‘the <WSD>ferals</WSD>' who embrace a new version of nonconformist behaviour that even some of us in their parent′s generation — the Aquarian settlers — don′t like. The <WSD>ferals</WSD> are the scapegoats for the drug problems here, and are highly visible since many of them have nowhere to live. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A person who has isolated themselves from the outside world; one living an alternative lifestyle.