A seven-year-old boy is still missing in a forest in Japan after he was dropped off by his parents as a punishment for misbehaving. A search goes on for the youngster in a forest in northern Japan.

The boy, identified as Yamato Tanooka, has been missing since late Saturday afternoon. Around 150 rescue workers have been deployed to search for him in the wooded area on Hokkaido. Hokkaido is the northernmost island of Japan's four main islands. The forest is known to be home to wild bears.

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The Hokkaido Police Department said in a statement that the parents initially told the authorities that their son disappeared while they were out picking wild vegetables. However, they alter admitted that they made him get out of their car and left him behind. They were apparently trying to discipline the boy for misbehaving. The boy was reportedly throwing rocks at people and cars while playing at a river earlier in the day. 

The father returned to the area where the seven-year-old boy was left behind but found out that his child was gone. The boy's father said in a statement that he regrets what he did to his child. He noted that he did not tell the truth to the police at first because he thought it was embarrassing to ask for help to look for his child after what happened.

Officials have not released a statement regarding what they think happened to the child or if there is any evidence available indicating that the child is still alive or might have been killed by bears.

Police officials are still deciding whether or not the parents will be charged with child abandonment. 

TagsJapan, forest, Hokkaido, seven year old boy, missing, misbehaving, discipline, parents