A child of 8 years managed to survive for 5 days in the Matusadona National Parkin the north of Zimbabwean area known for its high density of predators such as lions and leopards, as well as the presence of elephants, buffaloes and hippos. According to the British media The Timesthe little one, identified as Thank you Puduhad been missing since he left his village, Vegetativelocated about 22 kilometers from the park. His rescue on January 1 was described as a “miracle” by the local parliamentarian Kind Praise, y It has generated astonishment both in its community and on social networks.
As reported TheTelegraphTinotenda accidentally entered the park, a 1,476 square kilometer area that borders the Lake Caribbeanknown for its crocodile infested waters. During his odyssey, the boy survived by feeding on wild fruitsspecifically from searcha local fruit with an acidic flavor, and using traditional techniques to obtain water.
The boy dug small wells in a dry river bed using a stick, a skill he learned in his community, where droughts are frequent, detailed A praiser on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
The British media highlighted that Tinotenda spent his nights on a rocky ledge, surrounded by the sounds of roaring lions and passing elephants. The parliamentarian stressed that the park, which in the past housed one of the largest concentrations of lions in Africa, tIt still has a population of approximately 40 lions.
“Sleeping in such an exposed place, in the middle of predators, is something that few adults could endure,” Murombedzi said in his post., who described the boy’s experience as “a test of resistance and ancestral knowledge.”
The search for Tinotenda mobilized the entire local community, known as Nyaminyamiwho organized to track the boy in the dense forest of the park. As stated Daily MaillVillagers used drums at night in the hope that the sound would guide the child back home.. However, their initial efforts did not bear fruit.
On the fifth day of the search, a crazy episode changed everything: the rangers, who traveled the roads in their vehicles, they found fresh footprints in a dry bed of Ume River. That trace, small and fragile, was a promise. When they returned along the same path, they saw the boy. “This was probably his last chance to be rescued after five days in the wild,” said the parliamentarian.
The child was found weak and dehydratedso he was immediately placed on intravenous treatment to stabilize his condition. According to The Timeshis state of health, although fragile, did not present serious complications, which is attributed to his ability to stay hydrated and fed during the days he was missing.
Tinotenda’s story has been widely shared on social networks, where many users expressed their astonishment at the courage y endurance of the child. some even He has been compared to Mowgli, the fictional character of The jungle book. One user commented: “This child is incredibly lucky. I was camping in that park and the guides warned us about how dangerous the lions are there. “It’s a scary place.”
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude to the brave park rangers, the tireless community of Nyaminyami who played drums every night and everyone who joined the search,” Murombedzi wrote in power of unity, hope and faith.
He Matusadona National Parkwhere the incident occurred, is managed by the non-governmental organization African Parkswho works on wildlife conservation in Africa. According to the NGO, the park is a refuge for some of the continent’s most emblematic species, but it also represents an extremely hostile environment for humans due to the presence of predators and adverse weather conditions.
