Wow, what a large search area, I heard about the crash and rescue on my NPR news podcast, but I didn’t think the rescue operation was this large.

There is an interesting story about their survival.

Indigenous knowledge, bravery, vigilance

Thirteen-year-old Lesly Mukutuy was able to identify edible fruits, find suitable water and avoid dangerous plants and animals thanks in part to knowledge handed down to her by [her grandmother] Valencia.

“We have to recognise not only her bravery but also her leadership,” the minister of defence, Iván Velásquez, said on Sunday after a visit to Bogotá’s military hospital, where the children are being treated for malnutrition and minor injuries. “We can say that it was because of her that her three younger siblings could survive by her side, thanks to her care and her knowledge of the jungle.”