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Uncontacted tribe discovered in the Amazon
Officials from Brazil's National Indian Foundation (Funai) have announced the discovery of another uncontacted tribe living deep inside the Amazon Jungle. The tribe is estimated to have a population of about 200 people who have continued to live in the same natural manner for centuries, untouched by the modern world.Evidence of the tribe first surfaced when researchers spotted a small clearing while reviewing satellite images of the Amazon. The clearing intrigued them enough to conduct a flyover of the region in April, which produced photographs that showed several small huts clustered together in the rainforest near a copse of banana trees. The images that were taken also provided enough data to allow Funai to estimate the size of the tribe.
The tribe is said to be just one of several living in the Vale do Javari region of the Amazon, which is amongst its most remote places on the planet. Researchers believe that there are as many as 14 uncontacted tribes still living in that area, with roughly 2000 people amongst them.
In recent years, it has been the policy of the Brazilian government to avoid contacting these tribes in remote regions and to work instead to preserve their environments. That will be the case with this most recently discovered community as well, although their lifestyle is ultimately threatened by a number of outside forces. For example, deforestation, mining, hunting, and numerous other environmental concerns are taking their toll on the Amazon, which could eventually have an impact on these tribes as well.
Still, I think it's amazing that there are people in remote places that have yet to be visited by outsiders. We really do live on an amazing planet.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, South America, Brazil, News
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)
Ukalolo Jun 23rd 2011 12:29PM
I guess we still didn't learn. Why is when any living thing that was around for ever and is found of it's existence by the so called civilized world, it will no longer exist. They were doing just fine to survive, then a curious asshole change their ways of life.
Megan Jun 23rd 2011 2:23PM
The article said that the policy is to not contact them (which I believe is the right policy). Why is everybody acting like people flew right in there and gave them snickers, crack, cell phones, and guns?
Terri Jun 23rd 2011 12:22PM
Its a shame, in a way, not to be in contact from the standpoint of the enormous amount of information about the Amazon and its peoples that may help fill-in-the-blanks. But I agree, leave them in peace. They've survived this long without modern anything and help from "us" and they certainly don't need what we all face every day in the "modern" world. I'll bet these folks are happier than we are!
Debs-frm-GP Jun 23rd 2011 12:21PM
What a shame that they have made this world wide news, You have to know that they will not leave them alone now. The tribe will be invaded the same as the tropics or any other thing has had done to it.. So called civilized humans have a way of ruining the beautiful innocents of this earth..
pnut166 Jun 23rd 2011 12:22PM
How much more are ppl going to milk this "story". The tribe is NOT "uncontacted". They are holding steel machetes in the pics. It is well - documented that they know of the outside world, and just think modern-society sucks. They want nothing more than to be left alone, so LEAVE ` EM THE F**K ALONE already.
Megan Jun 23rd 2011 2:40PM
What pics are you talking about? All I saw was a picture of jungle trees.
pnut166 Jun 23rd 2011 4:58PM
The pics various outlets have been recycling for the last two years
Donna Jun 23rd 2011 12:41PM
How do you have the best of both worlds? I wonder how many die of malaria without medicine, or childbirth, or abscessed teeth. As for the "religious comment". How many millions of people would have died last year if not for the "mainline Christian Churches", helping with emergency food and medical care. I know there is a right way and wrong way of doing things, and this happens in every organization - come on we are human. How about a thank you for those groups, not only religious, but others who do work tirelessly to help make the planet a better place for all humanity.
RS Jun 23rd 2011 4:00PM
Their medical issues, whatever they may be and no matter how badly the outcome, are nature's way of keeping their population in tune with their environment - nature is non-biased. They don't know anything else and probably have their own belief system to deal with it, which means keep the damn missionaries out of there! It's none of their business!
Jayne Jun 23rd 2011 5:40PM
Fuck those self serving religious groups. They need to leave everyone alone.
florida1 Jun 23rd 2011 7:42PM
These are very good points you made. Children may have died who could have been saved, and adult lives may have been extended, or made less painful and uncomfortable. Also, I wonder about these children who will never experience great works of art, paintings, buildings, or literature. I believe that the wealth of human experience available, is more valuable than the protection of seclusion.
Hannelore Jun 23rd 2011 10:01PM
How many Americans are dying today of abcessed teeth, in childbirth, of cancer, etc. due to the lack of medical care? Leave these people alone and clean up our own backyard!!! If the "mainline Christian Churches" really want to help, take a look at their own neighbors and give help without judgement!!
Ringo Jun 23rd 2011 12:36PM
THE TRIBE IS CALLED "DEMOCRATS", AND THEY ARE LED BY THEIR LEADER "ODUMBO".
Joette Bailey Jun 23rd 2011 4:52PM
Regardless of your political preferences, Mr. Obama is our president. He should be spoken of with respect or you should shut your f---ing mouth. As president, George W. Bush made me sick, but because he was our president, I did not bad-mouth him with name-calling or hate rants. If we don't regard that office with respect, who the hell will? And you wonder why he hasn't "fixed" our massive list of problems. To do that he needs our support. If you cannot deal with respecting the office of president, you need to get the hell out of the U.S. OR FIND A COUNTRY WHERE EVERYONE IS A "WASP" AND MOVE THERE. I'm sure if he were white, he would not be disrespected so vehemently!! (Wrong again, I'm white).
Craig Jun 23rd 2011 1:47PM
There will be a McDonald's and a Walmart there within the next 5 years.
Book it.
jbjg24m Jun 23rd 2011 1:01PM
leave em alone, its their world there, wish i was there with them
Tony Jun 23rd 2011 1:06PM
This is not news. We have unknown, undiscovered tribes here. They will soon wish they were not introduced to the 21st century! Especially those places with certain leaders and governments.
Joellen Jun 23rd 2011 1:16PM
To all those bashing "so called modern society", I'll agree that in many ways, maybe we would all be better off had we stayed "uncontacted and backward" for centuries. But if you would stop running your mouths and think about it for a minute.....all those horrible civilized societies that build WalMarts, etc, started off the same way, in caves. Somehow, they developed and transformed their world. Other groups did not advance, but stayed in the caves. If that's where they are happy, then leave them alone. But, quit bashing all those developed societies you so obvious hate. Give up your cars, your cellphones, your college educations, you remote controls, grab a loincloth and go live in the jungle. I promise not to interfer with your choice to live that way. In fact, I won't miss you at all because I won't have to read your posts running down all those horrible religious groups that take medicine and education to remote tribes. I won't have to chuckle about all those advancements you hate, while you are typing on a computer keyboard.....something that never came out of any jungle or from any uncivilized tribe.
Ann Jun 23rd 2011 1:40PM
Thank you...very well said!
Debbie Jun 23rd 2011 1:20PM
Leave them alone, let them live in peace and harmony. If it was up to me I would be living with them. To much confusion in the world already. We need to go back to the basics.