At risk of extinction from disease and land loss
In the depths of the Amazon rainforest in Peru live tribes who have no contact with the outside world.
Oil workers and illegal loggers are invading their land and bringing disease. They won’t survive unless this stops.
Almost all the isolated Indians are nomads, moving across the rainforest according to the seasons in small, extended family groups.
In the rainy season, when water levels are high, the tribes, who generally do not use canoes, live away from the rivers deep in the rainforest.
During the dry season, however, when water levels are low and beaches form in the river bends they camp on the beaches and fish.
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| A Nahua man in south-east Peru. © Survival |
The dry season is also the time of year river turtles appear on the beaches to lay their eggs, burying them in the sand.
The eggs are an important source of protein for the Indians, and they are experts at finding and digging them up.
The Indians’ appearance on the beaches means that they are most likely to be seen by loggers, other outsiders or neighbouring, contacted Indians at this time of year.
Besides turtle eggs, the uncontacted Indians eat a variety of meat, fish, plantains, nuts, berries, roots and grubs. Animals hunted include tapir, peccary, monkey and deer.
Your efforts are crucial in defending the Uncontacted Tribes. Get involved in this urgent effort in the following ways.
