Crocodiles may be creatures that Western people fear, but a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea revere the reptile so much they try to look like them.
In an extreme initiation ceremony which sometimes ends in death, boys as young as 11 are sliced with razor blades with the very purpose that they will scar.
The repeated processed of cutting and healing results in marks on their backs, torso and shoulders which resemble crocodile scales.
The drive behind this incredibly painful ritual is that the Chambi tribe believe men evolved from crocodiles, making the scaly beasts sacred to the people. The cutting ritual is a tribute to their ancestors.
The scarification takes place in spirit houses along the Sepik River in northern Papua New Guinea and can take up to two hours.
In the past sharpened bamboo was used but today tribal leaders use razor blades.
They make deep, 2cm-long incisions on the backs, shoulders, and upper torsos of young males, whose ages can range from 11 to 30.
However, the boys are not allowed to show pain as the process is intended to demonstrate discipline, focus and dedication – if they can suffer the pain at a young age, they can better withstand it later in life.
The only pain relief they are allowed is to chew medicinal plant leaves to help the numb the agony.
After their flesh is cut, the youths lie near fire so smoke is blown into the wounds. Clay and tree oil are pushed into cuts to prevent infection and make sure they remain raised even after they’ve healed.
The cut skin will later feel and resemble that of a crocodile, with some men boasting complex patterns on their skin.
The ritual symbolises the purging of the males’ mothers’ blood and the gaining of their own adult blood. In short, they become men.
The young men may also spend time in the spirit houses as part of their journey to manhood.
They’ll learn to fish, carve, gain knowledge of village spirits and support their wife and family.
When they are ready, the youth dress in jewellery and ornate headdresses and take part in a big tribal ceremony.
In some areas, however, the tradition of crocodile initiation is lessening. This is attributed to the influence of the Christian church as well the price of the scarification ceremony.
Earlier this year it was announced the islands within the Andaman and Nicobar islands – found in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of India and Asia – will be open for day visits.
Some of the islands are home to a number of indigenous and dangerous tribes.
They are no longer under the Restricted Area Permit regime until the end of 2022. The decision was taken to improve tourism and development in the area and welcome new visitors.
Many of the islands have not seen tourists in decades due to the restrictions.
Protection for the islands will be ensured, regarding the preservation of marine and natural resources.
