Child spends five days in lion-infested Zimbabwe game park

A seven-year-old boy has been found alive after surviving five days alone in Matusadona Game Park, a dangerous wildlife area in northern Zimbabwe, home to lions, elephants, and other wild animals.

The ordeal began when Tinotenda Pudu, from the Nyaminyami community, wandered at least 49 km (30 miles) from his home into the vast and perilous park.

According to Mashonaland West MP Mutsa Murombedzi, Tinotenda spent the five days "sleeping on a rocky perch, amidst roaring lions and passing elephants," surviving by eating wild fruits and using his survival skills.

Matusadona Game Park, which spans over 1,470 sq km (570 sq miles), is home to around 40 lions, and at one time, it had one of the highest lion population densities in Africa, according to African Parks. During his time in the park, Tinotenda dug small wells in dry riverbeds to access drinking water—a survival technique common in the drought-prone region.

Local community members formed a search party and beat drums every day to guide Tinotenda back home. However, it was park rangers who ultimately located him on the fifth day of his ordeal.

Tinotenda had heard the sound of a ranger's vehicle and ran toward it, narrowly missing it. The rangers returned later, spotted fresh human footprints, and resumed their search until they found him.

"This was probably his last chance of being rescued after five days in the wilderness," the MP said. The boy’s survival has been hailed as nothing short of miraculous, with social media users praising his resilience and courage.

“This is beyond human comprehension,” one user wrote. Another commented, “He’s going to have one hell of a story to tell when he gets back to school.”

Tinotenda's survival story has captured the hearts of many and serves as a testament to the resilience of a young boy against the harsh forces of nature.