The Korowai tribe live high above the ground in amazing forest tree houses

[Ichingcarpenter]

Discovered only in 1974, the Korowai live high above the ground in forest tree houses, relying on their environment to protect and nourish them.

As a semi-nomadic tribe with an ancient culture, the Korowai live an almost entirely self-sufficient lifestyle in the dense jungle of Papua. Today, their unique way of life is undergoing rapid change, under the impact of modernity and the actions of the Indonesian government.


Traditionally, the Korowai live in small isolated groups, and each group, or clan, has a particular territory. There are usually no more than five tree houses in one settlement, and typical family home is built about 8 to 12 metres above the forest floor. However, in certain areas some of the tree-houses reach as high as 45 metres.








Their houses are built in one or two days and last for three to five years. When it is time for a new house to be built, it will be constructed in the same clearing, as long as the surrounding forest can still provide enough food and materials for the families of the clan.

















https://maptia.com/martingros/stories/the-korowai


Kool article also explains their social structure, food gathering, relationship of males and females etc. Also has many more photos

[ellenrr]

1. Fascinating. thank you. esp the pictures. This must have been how humans lived

before we became a rapacious greedy destructive species.
I don't mean in tree houses - but living off of what the surrounding area provides, not destroying the earth. True they had conflict, but their conflict would be local, it wouldn't engulf the world like conflict does today.
Too bad they have been "discovered".

[pnwmom]

2. I wonder how their elderly or infirm make it up those steps. And what their typical lifespan is.

[Sanity Claws]

4. That's what I wondered too

Or how a heavily pregnant woman made it up and down the ladders.

[haikugal]

8. My first thought...second thought was small children and babies...damn!

[Nay]

3. A beautiful photo essay on a handsome bunch of people. I can understand why the

government made them stop their occasional cannibalism, but otherwise I wish they would be left alone to live their lives.

[teach1st]

5. Beautiful

Thanks for posting that, Ichingcarpenter!

After reading about the Korowai, I took some time to explore the article's host site, maptia.com, which tons of compelling stories and photos from around our globe. Highly recommended.

https://maptia.com/

“At Maptia we are on a mission to create a shared record of our diverse lives and experiences from every single place on the planet. To gather stories that will foster empathy and understanding between cultures; stories that will empower us to care for our fragile environment and to support those people and places that need our help; and stories that will inspire us to get out there and make the most of our time on Earth.”

[Judi Lynn]

6. Imagining what life could be on their terms is overwhelming. They have overcome fears

which would paralyze so many others.

Can't begin to imagine how it must be to look down at the forest floor from that height, expecting to climb down!

Their ability to function with such flimsy supports makes them seem magical.

I hope they can be protected from "civilization's" predatory patterns, and keep their environment intact.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

7. I like this, thanks for the info.

Sounds like fun, except the cannibal part...