The men, residents of a village in Aceh Tamiang district, entered the dense jungle of Gunung Leuser national park in search of the agarwood — known locally as gaharu — a rare and extremely expensive type of heartwood used in the production of aromatic oils and incense. The men set a trap to provide themselves with food for the trip, but accidentally caught a tiger cub, who died of injuries.
Nearby tigers were drawn to the scene of the injured cub and pounced on the men, killing and eating their 28-year-old comrade as the five others climbed a tree to safety. The men called residents of the nearest village for help on their cell phones.