28.08.2025 21:42
In Indonesia's Papua region, adventurous YouTuber Dara Tah was nearly speared when approaching a tribe that had no contact with the outside world. In the video, Tah and a group of tourists experienced a great panic as they approached the tribe members waiting on the dense forest shore of Papua in a wooden boat. Tah's description of the tribe as "cannibals" sparked backlash on social media.
In Indonesia's Papua region, adventurous YouTuber Dara Tah was nearly speared when he approached a tribe that had no contact with the outside world. Those moments were captured on camera second by second.
In the video, Tah and a group of tourists experienced great panic as they approached tribe members waiting on the dense forest shore of Papua in a wooden boat. Shortly after, a tribe member aimed his bow and arrow at them.
One of Tah's team members anxiously said, "I think they pointed their bow and arrow at us," while Tah, waving his hand shakily, said, "It was really a terrifying moment."
The YouTuber waved packets of salt in the air to calm the situation, but a tribe member tasted the salt, spat it out, and gave Tah a threatening look. Tah immediately said, "Oh my God, he doesn't seem to like it. Maybe we should go back," pulling the boat away.
Local guide Demi also apologized, saying, "I'm sorry for bringing you here."
These recordings received a huge backlash on social media. Tah's description of the tribe as "cannibals" angered viewers. One comment stated, "Leave them alone, they are not cannibals!" while another comment said, "They are just people living a peaceful life."
Papua is home to over 250 tribes, most of which are cautious towards outsiders. Contact in the region can be both dangerous and expose tribes to diseases to which they have no immunity.
Similar situations have previously resulted in death. In 2018, American missionary John Allen Chau was killed by arrows while trying to evangelize a protected tribe on North Sentinel Island in India, and his body was never found.