Men trapped in a tree surrounded by tigers
Published: 2013 July 08 12:23:41 (5574 Views)
Five Indonesian men have been trapped in a tree for days after being chased into its branches by Sumatran tigers, who mauled a sixth man to death.
Four of the animals were still surrounding the base of the tree following their initial attack on Thursday, which they launched after the men accidentally killed a tiger cub.
Humans and animals are increasingly coming into conflict in Indonesia.
The men entered the Mount Leuser National Park in the north of Sumatra island on Tuesday searching for rare incense wood, district police chief Dicky Sondani said.
"The wood is very expensive ... but they run a risk looking for it as they have to go to more remote parts of Leuser where there are many tigers and elephants," he said.
The men set up traps for deers and antelopes for food – but accidentally trapped and killed a tiger cub.
The adult tigers reacted by attacking the men. They killed a 28-year-old identified only as David, but the five others took refuge up a tree, Sondani said.
"Four tigers are still surrounding the men under the tree," he added.
Thirty rescuers including police and soldiers set out on Saturday to rescue the men after villagers who tried to help them turned back after seeing the tigers.
But the rescuers would take two to three days to reach the men, Sondani added.
"If the tigers remain under the tree, we may have to shoot or sedate them to rescue the five people," he added.
The Leuser ecosystem is home to around 5,800 of the remaining 6,600 critically endangered Sumatran orang-utans as well as elephants and tigers, but it is threatened by commercial logging and clearance for palm oil plantations.
The Sumatran tiger is the world's smallest tiger. There are only an estimated 400 to 500 still alive in the wild.
- Telegraph
Four of the animals were still surrounding the base of the tree following their initial attack on Thursday, which they launched after the men accidentally killed a tiger cub.
Humans and animals are increasingly coming into conflict in Indonesia.
The men entered the Mount Leuser National Park in the north of Sumatra island on Tuesday searching for rare incense wood, district police chief Dicky Sondani said.
"The wood is very expensive ... but they run a risk looking for it as they have to go to more remote parts of Leuser where there are many tigers and elephants," he said.
The men set up traps for deers and antelopes for food – but accidentally trapped and killed a tiger cub.
The adult tigers reacted by attacking the men. They killed a 28-year-old identified only as David, but the five others took refuge up a tree, Sondani said.
"Four tigers are still surrounding the men under the tree," he added.
Thirty rescuers including police and soldiers set out on Saturday to rescue the men after villagers who tried to help them turned back after seeing the tigers.
But the rescuers would take two to three days to reach the men, Sondani added.
"If the tigers remain under the tree, we may have to shoot or sedate them to rescue the five people," he added.
The Leuser ecosystem is home to around 5,800 of the remaining 6,600 critically endangered Sumatran orang-utans as well as elephants and tigers, but it is threatened by commercial logging and clearance for palm oil plantations.
The Sumatran tiger is the world's smallest tiger. There are only an estimated 400 to 500 still alive in the wild.
- Telegraph
0
You May Like These Videos
WATCH: Victims Narrate Ordeal After Being Clobbered By Riot Cops
FLASHBACK: Morgan Tsvangirai Won't Resign Despite Illness 
Police Violently Beat Harare Protesters 
Zimbabwean Man Who Was Shot By Tswana Employer Appeals For HelpComments
There are no comments.
Get Zim Metro Updates Alerts
Big Reads
Schoolgirl drops out after continuous 'sexual abuse' by teacher
by Staff Reporter | 2019 August 13 07:42:33
Mugabe Knows Nothing About The Zimbabwe Constitution: MP
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 08:12:02
Zim's Protesting Graduates Risk Losing Degrees For Expressing Anger Against Mugabe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:57:08
Troubled Harare Giants Dynamos Falls Into Another Deep Crisis
by Own Correspondent | 2016 October 01 07:49:17
Grace Mugabe Grovels At Mnangagwa, Says I Did Not Ask Ubaba To Fire You
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:31:48
Mugabe Attacks Mawarire, Claims The Exiled Pastor Failed To Divide Zimbabwe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:19:13
Shock As Local Bank Denies 'Rich' Mugabe's Son Heifty Credit
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 30 19:14:54Trouble For Police Officers Who Have Been Mercilessly Bludgeoning Protesters
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:20:19
Mugabe "Home Coming" And "Thank You" Rally On Cards
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 23 06:48:24
Prof Moyo Was Dumped By Western Embassies, Claims Mutsvangwa
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 10:08:07Broke RBZ Tracks Down Zimbabweans Living Outside The Country Over Taxi
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 09:16:20
You Are Too Old To Lead, Aging Zim President Mugabe Told
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 22 07:19:25
Anti-Corruption Commission Loses Property In Failed Probe
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 03:18:19
.jpg)
SHOCKING:14 Year Old HIV-Positive Boy Rapes 7 Pupils
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 00:04:55
