Seven-year-old Tinotenda Pundu was found alive after a five-day ordeal in Zimbabwe’s Matusadona National Park, a region notorious for its dangerous wildlife, authorities announced Friday.
Tinotenda strayed from his village into the park on December 27 and was discovered 50 kilometres away on December 31, subsisting on wild fruits and water from riverbanks—a survival method often used in Zimbabwe’s arid zones.
ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo explained that Tinotenda traversed 49 kilometres of perilous, lion-populated terrain before his rescue. Despite heavy rains complicating their efforts, search teams composed of rangers, locals, and police intensified their search upon locating his footprints on December 30.
During the search, villagers played drums to help guide him, though rangers ultimately located him deep within the wilderness.
Upon rescue, Tinotenda was hospitalized, appearing frail but free from injuries and is anticipated to recover fully. Matusadona National Park, situated near Lake Kariba, is inhabited by many wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo.
