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A seven-year-old boy, Tinotenda Pudu, has been found alive after surviving five harrowing days in the Matusadona Game Park in northern Zimbabwe, a wildlife sanctuary known for its dense population of lions and elephants.
The ordeal began when Tinotenda wandered 49 kilometers (30 miles) from his home into the expansive and dangerous wilderness. According to Mashonaland West MP Mutsa Murombedzi, the boy relied on his knowledge of the wild and remarkable survival skills to endure the ordeal.
For five days, Tinotenda slept on a rocky perch, surrounded by roaring lions and passing elephants. He sustained himself by eating wild fruits and used a stick to dig small wells in dry riverbeds for drinking water—a technique commonly taught in the drought-prone region.
The park, spanning over 1,470 square kilometers (570 square miles), is home to zebras, elephants, hippos, lions, and antelope. It once boasted one of Africa’s highest densities of lions, with approximately 40 still inhabiting the area.
Local community members from Nyaminyami formed a search party, beating drums each day to guide Tinotenda back home. However, it was park rangers who ultimately found him.
On the fifth day, Tinotenda heard the sound of a ranger’s vehicle and ran toward it but missed being spotted. Fortunately, the rangers returned, noticed fresh footprints, and searched until they located him.
“This was probably his last chance of being rescued after such a long time in the wilderness,” said Murombedzi.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority confirmed the incident, correcting earlier reports that the boy was eight years old and clarifying the distance he traveled.
Tinotenda’s incredible resilience has sparked admiration on social media. “This is beyond human comprehension,” one user wrote. Another commented, “He’s going to have one amazing story to tell when he gets back to school.”
The young survivor’s story is a testament to his bravery and resourcefulness in the face of unimaginable challenges.
