Uncontacted Tribe, One Of The World's Last, Threatened By Illegal Logging In Brazil (PHOTOS)

Newly released images of uncontacted Brazilian Indians reveal a thriving world that may soon be destroyed. The photos were taken by Brazil's Indian Affairs Department, and Survival International presents them in an attempt to protect the Indian territory.

The tribe is currently in danger, as illegal loggers invade their land, pushing the tribe from Peru into Brazil. Last year, the Upper Amazon Conservancy found evidence of illegal logging while flying over the protected area.

As Survival's Director Stephen Corry recently said, "The illegal loggers will destroy this tribe. It's vital that the Peruvian government stop them before time runs out. The people in these photos are self-evidently healthy and thriving. What they need from us is their territory protected, so that they can make their own choices about their future. But this area is now at real risk, and if the wave of illegal logging isn't stopped fast, their future will be taken out of their hands. This isn't just a possibility: it's irrefutable history, rewritten on the graves of countless tribes for the last five centuries."

The Indians are in the 'Jungles' episode of BBC1's 'Human Planet' (Thurs 3 Feb, 8pm). Survival has launched a new website on uncontacted tribes: www.uncontactedtribes.org. For a detailed explanation of who the Indians are, and what the photos reveal, go to www.uncontactedtribes.org/brazilphotos.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Unfounded allegations have been made that these photos are a hoax because similar photos of the same tribe that were released in 2008 were incorrectly reported in the media as being an "undiscovered" tribe, thus leading to rumors of them being fake. CLICK HERE for more info on the "hoax" rumors being debunked in 2008.

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The photos reveal a thriving, healthy community with baskets full of manioc and papaya fresh from their gardens. © Gleison Miranda/FUNAI/Surviva

The photos reveal a thriving, healthy community with baskets full of manioc and papaya fresh from their gardens. © Gleison Miranda/FUNAI/Surviva

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Comments

[mama1974]

05:28 PM on 02/07/2011

I though these were posted last year and turned out to be fake.

[henrypapillon]

11:00 PM on 02/06/2011

Looks like a scene from "Avatar" , except the people are red instead of blue.

[Hot Boudain]

03:33 PM on 02/06/2011

Well, golly be, senf them food stamps and sign 'em as Democrats.

[thwartedvillainy]

12:59 AM on 02/07/2011

What a cretinous comment.

[lioness39]

11:01 AM on 02/07/2011

#1 fan on the way.

[SkeeBee]

03:21 PM on 02/07/2011

IF our species thought like you did, these folks wouldn't be living communally and SHARING and HELPING each other. Ironic that you would make such a sub Cro-Mag statement then isn't it?!
You do understand the term, 'irony', that I just "senf" your way hey mouth breather?
It would also mean that without that spirit of taking care of each other, our species would have died out....hmmmmm......

[colah]

10:16 AM on 02/06/2011

I have this mental image of Sarah hovering around with a .30 & a bottle of Jack taking left-handed shots at the villagers.

[Mafdet]

07:41 PM on 02/05/2011

I'm seeing to many accoutrements to feel like the people in these photos have never been contacted. 

[Non-Compassionate Liberal]

03:11 PM on 02/06/2011

Yeah, that blade the kid(?) is holding looks like store-bought, factory-made, Sheffield steel. I'm not saying this photo was produced in Hollywood. . . .

[Mafdet]

03:32 PM on 02/06/2011

And is that a little white cooking pot at the child's foot?
 
I'm thinking somebody threw some palm leaves on the set where they filmed the "moon landing" and called it a day.
 
I don't know.  Am I unsophisticated?  Can a people fashion tools like that when we don't see wheels, or other hard permanent structures...like ovens?  I mean once they figured out how to get at that iron ore...and what...smelt it...pound it out nice and smooth like that and sharpen it to a fine edge...
 
Wasn't the coffee table inevitable after that? 

[PresidentRobertBooth]

07:24 PM on 02/05/2011

Those pictures look photoshopped.

[RodeNode]

01:09 PM on 02/05/2011

Isn't it incumbent upon us to preserve and nurture that which sustains us and enriches our lives? Define "us" and "enriches". If it is not good for the one, it is not good for the many!!! Conversely, if it is good for the one, it is good for the many. The core of this, as I see it, is capitalism. What is driving deforestation? Until the basic need for greed goes away, this tragic example of greed will always take precedence over humanity. Very unfortunate since it's already winning. We all need to take a look at the man in the mirror. By trampling those that are in the way, we then hold no chance of real, fulfilling life as it is meant to be.

[LarryinMiami]

12:33 PM on 02/05/2011

I am soooooo going down there and bringing one back. I do hope she will do windows though.

[RodeNode]

12:45 AM on 02/06/2011

Not even funny, although you try to find humor in everything. Sometimes being serious will show people you have resolve to make things better. Do YOU?

[LarryinMiami]

09:00 AM on 02/06/2011

MMMMMMMMMM, that felt good! I love a nice wet tongue-lashing, a little LOWER, please. AHHH,

[bayonet division]

04:22 AM on 02/05/2011

"Uncontacted" you say? Did the boy in the photo get that finely-formed metal machete off of the machete-tree?

[LarryinMiami]

12:34 PM on 02/05/2011

and where did they get the Calvin Klein undies?

[EMillerdude]

08:03 PM on 02/04/2011

Advanced & modern society has the potential to destroy itself. But, "standing still in time" is a guarantee for destruction. Mass extinction is inevitable if we do not continue to progress science & understanding to prevent this. The next asteroid IS coming. Natural disaster, disease, take your pick. It's only a matter of time. History proves this. Advancement, progression, may be our downfall, but it's also our only hope.

[JonShank]

03:04 PM on 02/04/2011

Phony!!! Fraud!!! Massive Fail.

[Joseph Shaver]

10:58 AM on 02/04/2011

An un-contacted tribe carrying metal machetes? Try again, photo op fail

[chaapai]

11:25 PM on 02/03/2011

If there is a picture of them… doesn't that mean that they have been contacted? In one sense or another?

[Impulse725]

04:05 AM on 02/04/2011

If a stalker watches you shower, do you consider that contact? I'd say contact is two-way interaction.

[beninabox1]

10:23 AM on 02/04/2011

On the other hand, the people are looking intently at the picture-taker here, or at least the airborne vehicle. I wonder what they make of a non-bird flyer.

[chaapai]

02:15 PM on 02/04/2011

Thats a very valid point. I guess what I meant was, is that it looks like those people in these pictures are "aware" that something is taking place. It seems that they "notice" something out of the ordinary and are reacting to it. Is it a hidden camera and just by some fluke… they are looking at it? Or is there a guy in a tree screaming, "say CHEESE!"? Yet, NOT discussing with them whats happening on the Real Housewives of Atlanta, or the last inane thing tweeted by Palin.

in my humble opinion, with no real experience to back it up… i just thought that "uncontacted" meant that they were unaware of the outside world. But, even by typing that, I see how nearly impossible in todays world that would be.

It reminds me of the "duck blind" that malfunctioned on that planet with the proto vulcans and the society that Star Fleet was monitoring all of the sudden became aware that they were being watched.

If the illusion of isolation is unbroken, then thats all together different that a a scientist hanging out of a blimp to take a pic. But, I guess there is no way with this to know for sure. It just seemed a little odd. Either way, this is a cool story and I love the pics.

[R Davis]

08:33 PM on 02/03/2011

The loggers are producing income. Are these natives paying any taxes? If they are denying the Brazilian people of revenue maybe the arrangement should be reconsidered.

[R Z]

03:19 AM on 02/04/2011

are you on drugs? we are talking about the original inhabitants of the land.
you know in modern legal parlance, they would be called the "owners" because when you've lived on a piece of land for 15k+ (or more) years, you are sort of entitled to it.

[beninabox1]

10:26 AM on 02/04/2011

the loggers are doing their thing illegally. The natives are not using any Brazilian government services and they don't vote.