Search continues for 7-year-old boy abandoned in woods

Parents of Japanese boy intentionally left him as punishment

Rescue parties continue to search for boy abandoned in Japanese woods as punishment by parents (AP)

NANAE-CHO, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN ā€“ The search continues in Japan for a 7-year-old boy who was abandoned by his parents in bear-filled woods as punishment for misbehavior.

The Washington Post says the boy was left in a forest on the northernmost of the country's four main islands.

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The boy's parents originally told police on Saturday that he had disappeared while on a family trip. Ā 

They later recanted the story, saying they were embarrassed to admit that they had left the boy behind to teach him a lesson after he was caught throwing rocks at cars.

After leaving the boy for seven minutes, the family returned and were unable to find their son.

Four days of intense searches have turned up no sight of the boy who has no food or water.

Officials are worried about the child's safety after rescuers found fresh bear droppings in the area in which he was abandoned.

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