Korovai — a mysterious tribe of cannibals, who recently learned about civilization

The Korowai (or Kolufo) are a mysterious tribe that lives in the southeastern part of Papua, Indonesia. Until the 1970s, the Korovai did not even suspect the existence of other civilizations. The people of the tribe live in unique tree houses. The Korowai originally built their dwellings at a height to avoid attacks from other clans, who killed their tribesmen, took them into slavery or ate them.

Photographer Eric Baccega was able to get to the tribe 17 years ago and documented his stay there. 

The Korovai tribe has about three thousand people. Korovai adhere to ancient traditions, retell myths, beliefs, proverbs and wear amulets. They still believe that their dead ancestors can return to the land of the living at any moment.

The men of the tribe do not wear any helmets or other protective equipment during the construction of houses.

It is generally believed that the tribe practices cannibalism, although no evidence has been found.

Instead, korovai, who live at an altitude of almost 10 meters, eat larvae harvested in the forest.

Many people of the tribe moved from the trees to the villages.

The members of the tribe are mainly hunters and gatherers, but there are also those who are engaged in forest farming and fishing.

Korovai practically do not wear clothes, going hunting in this form.

A woman with a child goes up the stairs to the hut.

Some clans are afraid of Westerners, whom only a few have seen. They call the aliens "ghostly demons". The first recorded contact with the Western world took place in March 1974, when a group of scientists met with members of the tribe.

Although the Korowai live in wooden houses built on the tops of trees, they use fire to heat their homes and cook food.

And in May 2006, the guide and reporter Paul Raffaele (Paul Raffaele) brought a group from Australian television to meet with the cows. The members of the film crew later recalled that they met a man from the tribe, who said that his 6-year-old nephew was accused of witchcraft and could eat him as a punishment.

In an article for the Smithsonian Institution, Raffael wrote that most Korovai know little about the world that extends beyond their villages.