Rare images of the Mashco Piro, an uncontacted indigenous tribe in the remote Peruvian Amazon, were published on Tuesday by an international resource, revealing dozens of people on the banks of a river near areas where logging companies have concessions.
The reclusive Mashco Piro tribe has been seen more frequently in recent weeks, venturing out of the rainforest in search of food, possibly due to the encroaching presence of loggers, as reported by the local indigenous rights group FENAMAD.
In late June, the Mashco Piro were captured on camera on the riverbanks in the Madre de Dios region of southeast Peru, close to the Brazilian border. The images depict a significant number of isolated Mashco Piro living just a few kilometers away from where logging activities are set to commence, according to the resource's director.
Over 50 Mashco Piro individuals were spotted near the Yine village of Monte Salvado, while another group of 17 was observed near Puerto Nuevo, as stated by the NGO advocating for indigenous rights.
The Mashco Piro reside in an area between two natural reserves in Madre de Dios and have limited interaction with the Yine people or others, as per the resource.
Multiple logging companies hold timber concessions within the Mashco Piro's territory. One such company, Canales Tahuamanu, has constructed over 200 kilometers of roads for timber extraction, but did not respond to requests for comments.
Forest Stewardship Council certification indicates that Canales Tahuamanu operates on 53,000 hectares of forests in Madre de Dios, focusing on cedar and mahogany extraction.
Reports from the Peruvian government on June 28 mentioned sightings of Mashco Piro along the Las Piedras river, 150 kilometers from Puerto Maldonado, the capital of Madre de Dios.
Additionally, the Mashco Piro have been observed in Brazil, with reports suggesting they cross the border to escape loggers on the Peruvian side. They are known to appear on beaches during this time of year to collect Amazon turtle eggs, leaving behind traces of their presence.
Rosa Padilha from the Brazilian Catholic bishops’ Indigenous Missionary Council in Acre highlighted the Mashco Piro's constant movement and restlessness, attributing it to their perpetual evasion from external threats.
