Hunter found after four days missing in Sepaku
Joint search teams located Rafik, 40, a forest hunter from RT 11, Telemow Village, Sepaku Subdistrict, Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan, on Thursday (28 May). He was reported missing on Saturday (23 May) while hunting in the forest area of PT International Timber Corporation Indonesia Kartika Utama (ITCI-KU) in Sepaku.
BPBD Penajam Paser Utara Acting Head Nurlaila confirmed to Media Indonesia via phone that the missing person, Rafik, had been found unharmed.
“Alhamdulillah, the victim has been found safe and sound, with no injuries,” she said.
She added that the team discovered him walking out of the forest towards Camp 41 checkpoint, after which he was taken home by motorbike.
According to field reports, search teams found empty instant noodle packets and cigarette packs, which the victim confirmed were his resting spots for two days before he began moving to find his way out on the third day.
“The victim recounted that on Saturday afternoon, he and his friend Dewa went to set traps for wildlife in the KM 41 area of PT ITCI-KU’s forest concession, but he got lost and separated from his friend, ultimately becoming stranded in the forest without knowing the way back,” Nurlaila explained.
Meanwhile, the victim’s friend reported the disappearance to Rafik’s family on Sunday evening (24 May). Despite searching, they were unable to locate him.
Nurlaila stated that initial search efforts by the family and locals from Monday (25 May) to Tuesday (26 May) involved scouring the last known location, but without success.
A second search on Tuesday morning (26 May) by joint teams and family members focused on expanding the search area around the trapping site, approximately five kilometres from the main road.
“The search was conducted using two- and four-wheeled vehicles around the forest area where the victim was last seen, with foot patrols also conducted within the forest to locate the nearest route to his last known position,” she said.
On Wednesday (27 May), the third day of searching, teams expanded the area to eight kilometres from the main road but found no trace.
On the fourth day, after a team briefing, the search expanded further, with foot patrols covering an additional 500 metres where they discovered the victim’s trail, including the noodle and cigarette packaging.
“The joint search teams’ efforts were not in vain as the victim was found safe after four days of searching. With his discovery, the search has officially been called off and teams have returned to their respective posts,” Nurlaila explained.
Nurlaila stressed that the forest area is strictly off-limits for hunting activities, urging locals to avoid such actions which could lead to incidents like this.
“Company security is tight, and entry to the forest area requires passing security checkpoints. Therefore, any unauthorised entry by residents would result in sanctions against the company under applicable regulations,” she concluded.