At least 1 injured and 2 killed as uncontacted Amazonian tribe fire arrows at intruders encroaching on their land

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - Members of a recently sighted "uncontacted" indigenous Amazonian tribe fired arrows at loggers who tried to encroach on land considered theirs.

At least one person was left injured and there are unconfirmed reports two loggers may have been killed in the attack on July 27, reports the Guardian.

The clash happened at an illegal logging camp in the Madre de Dios region of remote south west Peru, according Survival International, an NGO that supports indigenous groups.

The tribe, known as Mascho Piro, were filmed just weeks before they gathered on the banks of the Pariamanú River, hunting for food.

Indigenous organisations have pushed for the protected area occupied by the tribe to be expanded to reflect the true extent of the Mascho Piro territory, but are up against strong opposition from the logging industry who have timber concessions in the area.

The rainforest is home to prized tropical hardwoods such as mahogany and shihuahuaco.

Satellite images show thousands of kilometres of logging roads have been built between 2020 and 2023.

As well as destroying their land, there are fears loggers could infect the tribe with diseases their immune systems are not able to cope with, such as the common cold.

The Mashco Piro people are considered the world’s largest group of voluntary isolated individuals, with reportedly around 750 members.

They rarely communicate with others and if they do it’s with other indigenous groups.