Nine-year-old Chris Villavicencio was exploring the Central Park Zoo with his family on Saturday when he wandered off on his own and ended up lost in Midtown.
While most kids would be terrified running around New York City alone, Chris was happy to have an afternoon adventure. The police found him at the Port Authority Bus Terminal about two hours later, according to the Associated Press.
The boy, who is from Union City, New Jersey, had been exploring Time Square after wandering out of the zoo. He said he tried to find elevated spots where he could stand and attempt to locate his parents, but had no success.
Chris’ mom, Ivonne Benito, along with Chris’ sister, picked him up at Port Authority and the three of them returned to the zoo. There, his father, Freddy Villavivencio, embraced him with tears of joy.
“This was the greatest day of my life, because this was the first day I was at the police station!” Chris told the Daily News.