A 9-year-old boy was found safe the on January 29 after becoming separated from his family at the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge in Alamo, Texas earlier that evening.

After being alerted that a boy had gone missing within the refuge, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office (HSCO) contacted the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Border Patrol Sector for assistance in locating him.

According to a U.S. States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) news release, RGV agents arrived at the Refuge just after sunset to assist HCSO deputies in the search. 

The boy, a United States citizen, was visiting the wildlife center with his family when they became separated.

A CPB Air and Marine Operations helicopter arrived on-scene to support the search.

Agents were able to determine his location after becoming aware of a technology activation within the center.         

The boy was found “in good health and [he] was immediately reunited with his family,” the news release explained.