Uncontacted Indian Tribe

The Brazilian government released pictures taken of an uncontacted indigenous tribe living close to the Peruvian border in the Amazon Rainforest.

It is estimated that there are over 100 uncontacted tribes in the world, most living in Peru and Brazil.

Fast Facts

1. Researchers took aerial photos
2. Group of about 20 people
3. Tribe members were frightened of helicopter flying over
4. Wearing red body paint made from fruit seeds
5. Had bows and arrows made from wood
6. Appeared to have a cotton basket
7. Live in large huts made of sticks
8. Photos taken between April 28 and May 2 of 2008
9. Communal shelters called "malocas"

Controversy

While the tribe was originally billed as "unknown", further investigation revealed that the tribe was first identified in 1910. Researchers had been assessing the tribe's territory for quite some time before the photographs were taken.

Survival International

The photos were taken to prove that "lost tribes" do exist. The found community is located in a remote area of the rainforest known as Terra Indigena Kampa e Isolados do Envira.

Survival International, a group that supports tribal people, said the tribe's territory needs to be protected by international law or they will become extinct. Such tribes are in danger of losing their land due to illegal logging in Peru and the threat of disease.

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