A 7-year-old boy in Zimbabwe was miraculously found alive after spending five days alone in the dangerous Matusadona National Park, an area known for its lion population.
Tinotenda Pudu disappeared from his village in the country’s northwest on December 27. His rescue came after an extensive search operation involving park rangers, police, and local volunteers, according to a spokesperson from Zimbabwe Parks, the country’s wildlife authority.
Heavy rainfall in the region delayed the search efforts, making it difficult for rescuers to track Tinotenda’s footprints. However, on December 30, a breakthrough came when rangers discovered fresh tracks in the park. The following morning, they found the boy in the early hours.
Mutsa Murombedzi, the member of parliament for the Mashonaland West region, which encompasses the park, called the rescue a “true miracle” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). She explained that Tinotenda had wandered off from his village, unknowingly heading toward the perilous park. At one point, he heard the sound of rangers’ vehicles and tried to run toward the noise but was unable to reach them in time. Fortunately, the rangers retraced their path and found fresh footprints, leading them to the boy.
“This was probably his last chance of being rescued after five days in the wilderness,” Murombedzi wrote.
Matusadona National Park is known for having one of the highest lion densities in Africa, as well as being home to a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, zebras, hippos, and buffalo.
Tinotenda is believed to have walked through 49 kilometers (about 30 miles) of rough, lion-infested terrain. During his ordeal, he survived by eating wild fruits and drinking from small holes he dug along dry riverbeds to access underground water, a technique commonly used in drought-prone regions.
“It is estimated that he walked through 49 kilometers of harsh terrain in Matusadona National Park, surviving on wild fruits and water from the earth,” said Zimbabwe Parks in a statement.
After being found, Tinotenda was immediately taken to a local clinic for initial checks, before being transferred to a hospital for further medical evaluation. According to a subsequent update from MP Murombedzi, the young boy is in stable condition, has rested, and will soon undergo psychological evaluation to ensure there are no long-term effects from his traumatic experience.