The Mucutuy brothers return home after two years under the care of the ICBF.

The Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) announced that the Mucutuy siblings, who were lost in the Guaviare jungle in June 2023 after a plane crash, have returned home after two years in the institution's care.

"With immense joy, the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) celebrates the return of the four Mucutuy siblings to the warmth of their home , after two years of care, protection, and accompaniment, following their discovery in the Guaviare jungle in June 2023," the entity said in a statement.

Since that episode that shook the country, the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) has supported them with an interdisciplinary team that has ensured their comprehensive recovery, always with a focus on respect for their culture and identity.

"Family Welfare deployed all its human and technical capabilities to provide Lesly, Soleiny, Tien, and Cristin with affection, support, and specialized care. Psychologists, nutritionists, social workers, and educators worked with sensitivity and commitment, always respecting their culture, voice, and identity, to ensure their physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery," the organization added.

The entity indicates that returning home represents a new path in their lives.

"Today, their return home represents much more than closure: it's the beginning of a new phase in which family once again takes center stage. A phase in which we continue to walk alongside them to strengthen their bonds , promote protective environments, and ensure these children grow up surrounded by love, care, and dignity," the statement said.

And she adds: "We deeply appreciate the trust of her family, the support of the Indigenous communities, and the inter-institutional coordination that made this reunion possible. This story is a living testament to resilience, the value of life, and the power of working together when guided by love for children."

The four Mucutuy brothers managed to survive completely alone for nearly 40 days in the jungle, after escaping alive from a plane crash.

The eldest girl, 14, was the one who helped her siblings when she regained consciousness after the impact. She heard them crying.

"Upon resuming his activity, he noticed he was bleeding profusely from the open head wound. To stop the bleeding and prevent insects from landing on the wound, he improvised a bandage using some clothing he had found inside the aircraft and gauze he found in the aircraft's first aid kit," the Aeronautics Department stated in its report.

She helped her siblings escape from the crashed plane. They spent two days and two nights at the crash site, during which time they ate the copoazu fruit and water they found on the plane.

From the older sister's story, it was learned that they were walking through the jungle, following the instructions their mother had given them about the edible seeds they could find.

According to the Aeronautics report, this was not the first time the girl had been in the jungle, as she had previously explored these environments with her family.

She decided to head with the children toward the Apaporis River to look for other food and water. She did so for 20 days, moving on her knees and leaning on her hip due to another leg injury she had sustained. When she was able to walk, she didn't have her left shoe, so she walked through the land wearing only her socks.

The children ate what they managed to catch from the river, thanks to a makeshift spear made by the oldest girl. They also ate the seeds they found along the way.

Days later, without having planned it, they returned to the crash site and stocked up on clothes. Then, they continued on their way, trying to find a settlement.