Police Still Can’t Find Missing Japanese Boy, Left In The Woods As Punishment By Parents

A thorough police search of the Japanese mountains has not uncovered a 7-year-old boy who was left there as punishment by his parents over the weekend.

In a tale of parental negligence to put the ‘Harambe’ story to shame, Yamato Tanooka was dropped by the side of the road in the mountainous area near Nanae-Cho, Hokkaido as punishment for throwing rocks at passing cars.

His folks reportedly drove 500 metres down the road, to teach Yamato a lesson, but when they returned a few minutes later, the boy had vanished.

Locals told the Japan Times that the area rarely sees passers-by, and that “it’s not surprising to encounter bears anywhere in the area.”

Though the boy’s father, Takayuki Tanooka, had initially told police the boy simply wandered off while they were picking wild vegetables, he eventually fessed up.

"We have done an unforgivable thing to our child, and we have caused a lot of trouble for everyone," he later told television reporters.

According to the SMH, a search party of more than 150 officers and firefighters have failed to recover any clues as to the boy’s location. Two hunters joined the scrum when fresh bear droppings were found nearby.

More news as it develops.

Photo: iStock.