Sierra Blogging Post Archives

It's incredible to me that in this day and age there are still people left in the world who have had no contact with outside society. No contact of any kind. It's simply mind blowing.

If you haven't heard about the uncontacted tribes in Peru and Brazil, you'll be amazed, too. Photographers recently spotted an isolated tribe in the Amazon and the photos have been making headlines all week. Painted red and black and wielding bows and arrows, this Peruvian tribe was obviously frightened by the small airplane that was taking pictures. Who knows what they were thinking. They may have thought they were the only people on Earth until now.



Residing in a remote corner of the Amazonian rainforest, these people live off the land, in communal thatch huts. They appear rather primitive and oblivious to the advances mankind has made in almost every other part of the world. It's unclear how long they've been there, but unfortunately, their time may be running short. Illegal logging in Peru is encroaching on their territory and may soon force them over the border with Brazil... or worse. It could lead to their extinction.

The dangers to the tribe are made clear in an article on CNN...

"All are in grave danger of being forced off their land, killed or decimated by new diseases," the National Indian Federation said Thursday.

Illegal logging in Peru is threatening several uncontacted groups, pushing them over the border with Brazil and toward potential conflicts with about 500 uncontacted Indians living on the Brazilian side, Survival International said.

Director of Survival International, Stephen Cory, said the new photographs highlight the need to protect uncontacted people from intrusion by the outside world.

"These pictures are further evidence that uncontacted tribes really do exist," Cory said in a statement. "The world needs to wake up to this, and ensure that their territory is protected in accordance with international law. Otherwise, they will soon be made extinct."

How terrible would it be if these isolated tribal people were to become extinct due to progress - something they haven't contributed to in the least? These are human beings we're talking about. People, just like you or me. If you'd like to help protect these indigenous people, or others like them (there are approximately 100 uncontacted tribes in the world), visit Survival International for more information.