Seven-Year-Old Boy Found Alive After Five Days Lost in Lion Habitat

A seven-year-old boy has been found alive after being lost for five days in Matusadona National Park, a reserve home to lions and other wild animals in northern Zimbabwe. The boy, identified as Tinotenda Pundu, wandered into the park near his village on December 27 and was located about 50 kilometres away five days later, according to ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo.

The child survived by eating wild fruit and drinking water from a riverbank, a technique commonly used in Zimbabwe’s drought-prone areas. Rangers, locals, and police immediately launched a search, but heavy rains delayed their efforts. The boy’s footprints were spotted on December 30, and he was found early the next day.

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Admitted to hospital, Tinotenda was found to be frail but without visible injuries. Local lawmaker Mutsa Murombedzi called it a “miracle” that the boy survived, given the dangerous wildlife in the area, including lions, leopards, and elephants.

Matusadona National Park, located near Lake Kariba, is known for its vast array of wild animals, making Tinotenda’s survival all the more remarkable.