An 8-Year-Old Boy Survive Five Days Alone In The Jungle Surrounded by Over 40 Lions

An 8-year-old boy has surprisingly been found alive after spending five days in a Zimbabwean wildlife reserve teeming with lions. The park is home to around 40 lions, and at one time had the highest lion concentration in all Africa.

Tinotenda Pudu, from the Kasvisva community in the rural area of Kariba in northern Zimbabwe, accidentally entered the Matusadona National Park after wandering 14 miles from his home, according to Mashonaland West MP Mutsa Murombedzi.

Tinotenda weathered five days in the wild, which included sleeping on rocky perches surrounded by lions and other wildlife, and subsisting on wild fruits.

Tinotenda’s survival is attributed to his familiarity with the wild and his instincts. He was able to identify edible wild fruits and also sourced water by digging miniature wells in dry riverbeds – a survival technique common in drought-stricken areas.

The local Nyaminyami community formed a search party for the little boy, with drums being played daily, in the hopes that he would follow the noise back home.

Five days later, the young boy spotted the rescue vehicle and ran after it. Unfortunately, the rangers did not see him and the vehicle drove off. Luckily, when the rangers were returning, they noticed signs of tiny human footprints and searched the area until they found him.

“This was likely his last opportunity for rescue after spending 5 days in the wilderness,” Mutsa Murombedzi stated. She thanked all those who aided in the search for Tinotenda, declaring, “we are grateful to God for protecting Tinotenda and guiding him home safely. This demonstrates the power of unity, hope, prayer, and never giving up”.

Tinotenda’s unbelievable adventure comes on the heels of another rescue of a nine-year-old boy who survived six days in a Mexican jungle last October. The ordeal started when little Joel Acosta ran away from home in the town of Palizada in Campeche after his stepfather didn’t allow him to keep more pet dogs.

Acosta, affectionately known as “El Choco,” fled with his dogs and when he failed to return, his parents reported him missing, assuming he had gone to play near a stream close to their home. Acosta ended up lost in the jungle, which is inhabited by crocodiles and snakes, and was unable to find his way back before a hurricane hit the region with heavy rainfall.

Several parties including the Local Commission for the Search for Persons of the State of Campeche, the police, and local residents came together to find Acosta, even using drones in the search. However, the early attempts were unsuccessful as the storm had wiped clean the dogs’ footprints.

The search intensified when one of Acosta’s dogs, Bobi, returned to the neighborhood after an Amber Alert was issued. Finally, on the sixth day, authorities found Acosta beside a cabin.