A Cautionary Tale

[BOD]

A fractured or sprained ankle is a life threatening situation in the jungle.

http://www.topnews.in/german-man-missing-indonesias-kalimantan-province-2155583

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/05/16/remains-german-tourist-sent-jakarta.html

For those who can read Indonesian

http://issuu.com/tohirtribun/docs/gabung_240309/16

This German man started an ambitious trip across Indonesian Borneo from East to West (about 800km in a straight line) with one guide. He started up the Mahakam drainage to Long Iram, where the guide originated from. This is quite accessible country especially if you are travelling by boat.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1136921

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/19254785

http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/19254711.jpg

After Long Iram, he was on foot with two indigenous guides after parting company with the original guide. The terrain eventually changes to swift water and steep hill country but not till much further upstream.

After an unknown number of days but about 27 air miles from the place he picked up the guides, they entered the jungle proper where he damaged his ankle and could not walk effectively. The Dayaks (for want of a better word) built him a shelter by a small river and went to look for help i.e. try and find a longhouse or settlement on a river.

On the way one of the Dayaks fell ill himself with malaria and could not go on. The remaining man built him a shelter then left and carried on alone. The sick man shivered and sweated his way through the chills and fevers waiting for his friend to return. When he did not and the worst was over, he carried on in his weakened state and eventually came across a local Dayak hunter who brought him out and then to the nearest bush clinic. It took five days from finding the hunter to reaching the clinic.

A search was started and in due course the German’s shelter was found. All his belongings and money were intact (except for a compass which the Dayak brought with them) but only his skull and a couple of bones were found which is why we do not know the extent of the leg injury.

When I heard this story from the German community here I found it chilling for three reasons. Firstly, being unable to walk in the jungle is one of my big fears as it is such a difficult place to be evacuated from (or found). Secondly this is an area I want to go to one day not very dissimilar to places I have been in Sarawak. Thirdly, the other guide who went for help has never been found.

Interestingly it is reported that he could not start a fire.

 

[malente]

Wow, that is scary. I wonder if a fire would have made a difference?

 

[SouthernCross]

...... Thirdly, the other guide who went for help has never been found.....

I wonder why?

Both pics are from Kalimantan

BTW, what do you reckon is the bulge is in the belly of the snake in the first pic?




Kind regards
Mick

 

[Celt_Ginger]

Good lord!! Look at the size of it!!

 

[BOD]

The first pic has been rumbled by Jonathon as a distortion of perspective by moving the digger arm closer to the camera than the operators. No idea about the second.

Still there are big constrictors around. I understand from a biologist who keeps one at home that they attack your face and clamp on. Once you are busy trying to unhook the jaws they toss a few coils around you then you get a bad asthma attack.

More likely another injury, losing the way, deadfall, or a bite from a poisonous snake.

 

[SouthernCross]

The first pic has been rumbled by Jonathon as a distortion of perspective by moving the digger arm closer to the camera than the operators.......

Ahhhh the old fisherman trick used for magazines

BTW, the second pic is also known as " an Indonesian speed hump" and was taken on a logging road that was built for two way traffic



Kind regards
Mick

 

[Timbo]

sssseriously big snake that!

 

[Rumi]

Jungle survival is a whole other ball game!

Big snakes, biting insects and being eaten by something or other aside the biggest enemy anyone in the tropics faces are minor cuts becoming septic. Then of course there are the problems of getting lost in an environment where everything looks the same.

I used to do a lot of trekking in the jungle in Sri Lanka when I lived there. Its not primary tropical forest, and the areas aren't large though there are many many hazards. The biggest being leopards which like to hunt by dropping on their prey from a branch above the trail.

He was a foolhardy man to take on such a trek so lightheartedly. Fire is essential in the jungle, it is the only way to keep the dangerous animals away day or night, and a smoke is a great way to keep at leas some of the blood suckers away. I think fire would have made a huge difference both from a well being point of view and as a way of attracting the attention of searchers.

 

[Ray Britton]

O M G.

As someone who is scared of snakes, I had to take my feet off the floor and rest them on my swivel chairs feet, just to look at those snake pics!

 

[Rabbitsmacker]

the second one looks like eurostar for gods sake! thats the stuff of nightmares!