Peru in shock move to abolish uncontacted tribe’s reserve

June 1st, 2011

The survival of the uncontacted tribe whose images caused a worldwide sensation in February is in jeopardy, after Peruvian government plans to abolish a reserve that protects their territory were exposed.

A Murunahua man, contacted by loggers in 1995. Half his people died after initial contact. © Chris Fagan/Upper Amazon Conservancy

The Indians live inside Brazil, close to the Peru border. The Murunahua reserve protects neighbouring uncontacted Indians on the Peru side, but has been invaded by illegal loggers in recent years.

Following Survival’s release of the photos and footage in February, Peru’s government said it would work with the Brazilian authorities to protect the area. But now its Indian Affairs Department INDEPA is planning to abolish the Murunahua reserve completely – because it ‘does not believe there are uncontacted tribes living there.’

INDEPA’s move coincides with an investigation by US organization the Upper Amazon Conservancy (UAC), proving the Murunahua reserve is still the target of widespread illegal logging despite repeated government promises to protect it.

UAC’s investigation documented five active logging camps inside the reserve and two recent sightings of uncontacted Indians close to the Brazil border.

The illegal logging has been widely blamed for causing uncontacted Indians to flee into Brazil – close to where the Indians photographed in February are living.

A contacted Murunahua woman living close to the uncontacted tribe's reserve.

Survival International’s Director Stephen Corry said today, ‘The uncontacted Indians living in this reserve have been the unwitting victims of a really cynical manoeuvre by the Peruvian authorities. Since the government has done nothing to stop the influx of loggers, the Indians seem to have fled into Brazil – so now the government says it will abolish the reserve as the Indians are no longer living there. I hope anyone moved by February’s extraordinary images will let the Peruvian government know just what they think of this plan.’

The former uncontacted Indians expert of Brazil’s Indian Affairs Department, Jose Meirelles, said, ‘It is completely absurd to abolish the reserve. I would bet all my money that this is down to the interests of illegal logging and oil.’

Survival has written to Peru’s two main presidential candidates running in next week’s election, urging them to take immediate action to protect the tribes.