MOSCOW, August 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Yakutia Republic will set up a monument in honor of a little girl, who got lost in the dense Siberian Taiga woods in late July and survived for 11 days and nights together with her puppet till she was finally found by rescuers, Russian media reports.
A sculpture lauding 3-year-old Karina Chikitova’s strength of mind, as well as her puppet’s loyalty is soon to be erected on a square by Yakutsk city airport. It will also feature a memorial plate that will tell the story of the girl’s miraculous survival.
The child is currently undergoing treatment in hospital.
The incident overwhelmed the public both at home and abroad, making headlines internationally. Notably, The Daily Mail called the courageous Russian child “real Mowgli”, as they at length retold her story.
Karina Chikitova wandered far away from her home in Olom village, Yakutia on July 29 and survived for 11 days eating wild berries and drinking river water in an area littered with bears and wolves, The Siberian Times reported. Experts say she stood minimal chances of survival given the circumstances.
She was saved by her puppy who warmed her up in low sub 6C night temperatures, for over a week before leaving her to return home to summon help. It then guided the rescuers to the stranded child.