"7-Year-Old Boy Survives 5 Days in Lion-Infested Zimbabwe Park"

A 7-year-old boy made a miraculous escape after surviving five days in a lion-infested game park in Zimbabwe. Lost and alone, the boy defied the odds, managing to avoid danger from the wild animals and ultimately being rescued. His survival story has captivated many, with experts calling it a true miracle, highlighting the boy’s resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges.

The boy went missing from his village on December 27 and traveled approximately 40 miles to the game park. The search for him faced challenges due to heavy rain, which made it difficult to track his footprints.

A 7-year-old boy was discovered alive after wandering away from his village and becoming stranded in Zimbabwe’s national park, surrounded by "roaring lions" for five days, according to park officials and a member of the Zimbabwean Parliament.

Mutsa Murombedzi, the member of Parliament for Mashonaland West Province, referred to the boy’s rescue as "a true miracle" in an X post shared on Wednesday. She mentioned that the incident occurred in Nyaminyami, a rural area of Kariba, where a wrong turn could lead directly into a game park.

The boy went missing on December 27 in the Marindi area, traveling about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from home. He became lost and unknowingly entered the "lion-infested Matusadona National Park," according to park officials. The Matusadona National Park, bordered by the Ume and Sanyati rivers, is home to Africa’s highest lion density and also contains elephants, buffaloes, and various lakeshore species such as hippos, waterbucks, and impalas, as described by African Parks.

A coordinated search was launched but was hampered by the heavy rainfall that obscured the boy’s tracks. On December 30, rescuers finally found footprints in the Sakata Valley area of the park, according to park officials.

After five "long and harrowing days" near the Hogwe River, which feeds into the Ume River, park rangers found the boy alive on December 31, said Murombedzi and the park officials. While lost, the boy slept on a rocky outcrop, avoided lions, passed elephants, and ate wild fruits, according to Murombedzi.

Park officials also shared that the boy dug a small hole along the dry riverbank to access underground water, a technique known to people in drought-prone areas. After being rescued, he was taken to a local clinic for initial checks and then transferred to a hospital for further medical evaluation.

"We are overwhelmed with gratitude to the brave park rangers, the dedicated Nyaminyami community who beat drums every night to guide the boy back home, and everyone who contributed to the search," Murombedzi said in the X post. "Above all, we thank God... This story is a testament to the power of unity, hope, prayer, and persistence."

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Source: usatoday‍