Remarkable photographs taken from a plane flying over the Brazilian jungle give us a unique insight into the lives of one of the world’s last uncontacted tribes.
Gleison Miranda / FUNAI / Survival via AFP – Getty Images An undated handout picture released January 31, 2011 by Survival International of what they say are uncontacted Indians seen from a Brazilian government observation aircraft in the Brazilian Amazon forest, near the border with Peru. The Indians appear be to healthy and could be running from Peru due to a invasion of their lands by loggers.
UPDATE: Survival International has confirmed the date of the photographs as June 2010.


Gleison Miranda / FUNAI / Survival via AFP – Getty Images This man, painted with annatto seed dye, is in the community’s garden, surrounded by banana plants and annatto trees.


Gleison Miranda / FUNAI / Survival via AFP – Getty Images Men painted with red and black vegetable dye watch the Brazilian government plane fly overhead


The pictures were taken by the Brazilian government’s Indian Affairs Department and released by the NGO Survival International as part of an effort to protect the tribe. They say that the tribe’s survival is in serious jeopardy due to an influx of illegal loggers that may have pushed them across the border from neighboring Peru.
The photos show large vegetable gardens where the tribe grow fruit and vegetables; manioc, maize, sweet potato, pumpkin, peanuts, papaya, and bananas can all be identified. They also plant cotton which is spun and woven for skirts. The men have cotton waist bands and some have small head dresses. The men carry bows and arrows for hunting.
Survival’s Director Stephen Corry 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.’

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