One man mauled to death by several tigers in national park on border of Aceh and North Sumatra provinces, say police

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

Rescuers are searching for five men reportedly trapped up trees after being tracked by several Sumatran tigers that mauled a sixth man to death, Indonesian police said.

A local police chief, Lieutenant Colonel Dicky Sondani, said a 30-strong rescue team had been sent to the Mount Leuser national park in Taming, Aceh province.

The men were looking for rare agarwood – used to make incense and perfume – and accidently caught a tiger cub in a trap they were using to catch deer for food.

Five other tigers in the area then attacked the men, Sondani said, citing reports from villagers who received mobile phone messages on Thursday from five of the men.

One of the group was mauled to death, while the others managed to climb into trees, the police chief said.

The rescue team had not located the missing men as of Monday, said Sondani, adding: "We are worried because they could be weak and fall from the trees due to a lack of food."

Leuser park covers 7,927 sq km (3,060 sq miles) on the border of North Sumatra and Aceh provinces. Besides Sumatran tigers, the park is home to other protected animals, including orangutans, elephants, rhinos and leopards.

Sumatran tigers are the most critically endangered tiger subspecies. About 400 remain, down from 1,000 in the 1970s, because of deforestation and poaching.