Young Boy Found Alive After Spending 5 Days Surrounded by Lions and Elephants in Game Park

A missing boy has been found alive after spending nearly a week alone in a northern Zimbabwe game park filled with lions, elephants and other wild animals, local officials said.

On Wednesday, Jan. 1, Mutsa Murombedzi, a member of Zimbabwe’s parliament, shared news of the “true miracle” on social media.

“A boy missing & found in Matusadonha game park,” she began in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), sharing a photo of the child.

According to Murombedzi, 8-year-old Tinotenda Pudu wandered away from his remote Kasvisva community, “where one wrong turn could easily lead into a game park.”

Describing Matusadona National Park as “perilous,” the parliament member said the child had “unknowingly” made his way into the game park after going in the wrong direction.

“After 5 long, harrowing days in the jungle near Hogwe River, which feeds into Ume river, the boy has been found alive by the incredible rangers from Matusadona Africa Parks. His ordeal, wandering 23km (14 miles) from home, sleeping on a rocky perch, amidst roaring lions, passing elephants, eating wild fruits and just the unforgiving wild,” she wrote, calling the ordeal “too much” for the 8-year-old.

Matusadona National Park was once home to “the highest density of lion[s] in Africa,” per the park’s official website.

“Today the park contains a strong baseline of wildlife species such as elephant, lion, buffalo and typical lakeshore species of hippo, waterbuck, impala and buffalo,” the website adds.

Per the BBC and CBS News, the MP also shared that a search party was formed by members of the local Nyaminyami community, who would beat drums daily in an attempt to guide Tinotenda back home by allowing him to follow the sounds.

On the fifth day, Tinotenda happened to hear a park ranger’s car and ran towards it. Although he missed the vehicle, the rangers later passed the same area and saw “fresh little human footprints” before they were able to find him, the news stations reported.

“This was probably his last chance of being rescued after five days in the wilderness,” Murombedzi said.

In her post on X, she added, “We are overwhelmed with gratitude to the brave park rangers, the tireless Nyaminyami community who beat night drums each day to get the boy hear sound & get the direction back home & everyone who joined the search.”

Murombedzi continued, “Above all, we thank God for watching over Tinotenda and leading him back home safely. This is a testament to the power of unity, hope, prayer and never giving up.”

This article by Angel Saunders was first published by The People on 3 January 2025. Lead Image: African Elephant on the shoreline of Lake Kariba, with a lush green hill and impala grazing in the grss in the background. Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe. Photo: paulafrench/Getty Stock Image.

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