Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# German tourist eaten by cannibals in French Polynesia! Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Tahiti & French Polynesia
raki_man 08:30 UTC 17 Oct 2011 | A German tourist disappeared last month after reaching the remote tropical island of Nuku Hiva in French Polynesia. After a week of searches, charred human remains and clothes have been found near a campfire in a remote valley on the island, raising fears that he may have been attacked and eaten by cannibals. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/frenchpolynesiatahiti/8830733/Cannibal-fear-over-German-tourist.html |
raki_man 09:29 UTC 17 Oct 2011 | As Mrs Raki said to me, 'I rather you were eaten by cannibals on your next trip rather than just ending up being run over by a bus crossing the road to work'! | 1
silvanocat 14:57 UTC 17 Oct 2011 | Great post - I'm going to run over to Tahiti Explorer and warn them! A couple of years ago I posted an obviously true account (writen by a cruiser) of cannibalism in modern day French Polynesia. | 2
energizer 22:15 UTC 17 Oct 2011 | I bet he never knew and sensed danger dealing with a local guide. Sounds almost like a script out of a horror movie | 3
wksamoa 23:54 UTC 17 Oct 2011 | Cannibalism is not ruled out yet, lol. I wonder who came up with it in the first place. As far as I read in the news item and elsewhere, there isn't the slightest real indication of cannibalism present so far. A human body was cut in pieces and those were burnt - these are the facts as I read them. A forensic expert in Germany was cited regarding it as a rather common attempt to get rid of a body. Maybe they need another tourist attraction - come and see the meal site. Latest news update: French Polynesia prosecutor dismisses cannibalism claim as lunacy Edited by: wksamoa | 4
pago 10:08 UTC 19 Oct 2011 | Well for sure, we're not going back there anytime soon.. | 5
jaded1720 14:39 UTC 20 Oct 2011 | there isn't the slightest real indication of cannibalism present so far apart from the remnants of fava beans and a nice Chianti at the campsite. | 6
wksamoa 20:26 UTC 20 Oct 2011 | Right. But that is Nuku Hiva, Where he got the Chianti from? Mysteries over Mysteries ... | 7
h2ooh 02:07 UTC 21 Oct 2011 | Come on.... you guys are scaring the tourists..... some of them might believe you! | 8
raki_man 07:55 UTC 21 Oct 2011 | The local hunter suspected of killing and eating a missing German tourist has a tattoo of a notorious cannibal tribe on his shoulder, it emerged yesterday. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2051431/Henri-Haiti-suspected-eating-Stefan-Ramin-tattoo-cannibal-tribe.html So there! | 9
h2ooh 15:10 UTC 21 Oct 2011 | It may a case of homicide by a deranged individual. It not a resurgence of the practice of cannibalism in French Polynesia. If it turns out to be true then I guess you could say that the perpetrator is a cannibal but the headline "German tourist eaten by cannibals in French Polynesia!" is newspaper hype. | 10
silvanocat 15:24 UTC 21 Oct 2011 | Clearly everything that you read in the papers is not true. The British Daily Mail quotes journalist Alex Du Prel, based on Tahiti, on this matter: "Believe me, French civilisation has taught these people to eat cheeseburgers and canned food, not people." | 11
jaded1720 15:28 UTC 21 Oct 2011 | However silvanocat, a balanced diet is very important. | 12
wksamoa 18:46 UTC 21 Oct 2011 | #9 You will hardly find any tattoo linked to a tribe, that has not been involved in cannibalism at some time in history ;-). #12 Lol. That would explain too why he choose a German, not a local or even a French. It completely is newspaper hype only. The OP wrote "German tourist eaten by cannibals in French Polynesia!" with cannibals in plural and a ! at the end. Because that exactly was the impression conveyed by the media. But the article only said "it cannot be ruled out" which would at least mean a ? at the end. And are there any hints of more than one killer? Despite the fact that there are no hints on cannibalism anyway. I really feel sorry for the poor guy and his partner - but the media coverage is simply appalling. | 13
nukuhiva2 01:00 UTC 22 Oct 2011 | Murder yes, but more newspapers sell if cannibalism is added. I was following a local message board where Marquesians are upset at how they are portrayed. They also express condolences to the victim's family and compassion with the family of the accused. Everybody knows everybody else on such a small island. And in Stefan's small hometown of Haselau in Germany, everybody knows everybody else as well. Nuku Hiva is a peaceful island, extraordinarily beautiful in a rugged sort of way; crime is usually restriced to theft and drunken brawls. Look at the dramatic valley where Stefan Ramin's remains were found: http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/France/Other/French_Polynesia/Marquises_Nuku-Hiva_Hakaui/photo180561.htm Edited by: NukuHiva2 | 14
jaded1720 12:41 UTC 22 Oct 2011 | I would love nothing better than dining out with a view like that! | 15
ozziegiraffe 12:43 UTC 22 Oct 2011 | Wasn't the most recently reported murder by cannibalism in Germany? | 16
jaded1720 12:49 UTC 22 Oct 2011 | Was that the case where there was no legal precedent because the alleged murderee helped consume his own fried penis with the alleged murderer before he had his throat voluntarily cut? | 17
ozziegiraffe 12:55 UTC 22 Oct 2011 | Don't remember those details, but I think he was a volunteer. | 18