An eight-year-old boy has been found alive after surviving five days in a game park inhabited by lions and elephants in Zimbabwe.
Mutsa Murombedzi, a member of the Zimbabwean parliament, narrated the incident via an X post.
The boy identified as Tinotenda Pudu was said to have mistakenly wandered 14 miles from his home in Kasvisva community into Matusadona Game Park.
Pudu was said to have spent five days “sleeping on a rocky perch, amidst roaring lions, passing elephants”.
Murombedzi revealed how the little boy utilised his survival skills and knowledge of the wilderness to stay alive while “eating wild fruits”.
She said the community members searched for him and beat on drums every day hoping the young boy would hear them and be guided back home.
Murombedzi added that park rangers found the boy after he overheard one of their cars and ran towards it.
“A true miracle in remote Kasvisva community, Nyaminyami in rural Kariba, a community where one wrong turn could easily lead into a game park. 8-year-old Tinotenda Pudu wandered away, lost direction & unknowingly headed into the perilous Matusadona game park,” she wrote.
“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 from home, sleeping on a rocky perch, amidst roaring lions, passing elephants, eating wild fruits and just the unforgiving wild i too much for an 8 year old.
“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. 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.”
According to African Parks, Matusadona Game Park is home to around 40 lions and once had the highest population of the big cats in Africa
