New photographs revealed the thriving existence of the reclusive Massaco tribe, one of the last uncontacted communities in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. Captured by automatic cameras set up by researchers from Brazil's National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai), these images provide the first clear visual evidence of the Massaco community. According to the New York Post, it marked an advancement in the understanding of the isolated group.
The Massaco people inhabit a 421,000-hectare reserve in the state of Rondônia, near the border with Bolivia. They are named after the river that runs through their territory, but little is known about their own name, language, or cultural traditions. Their identity remains a mystery.
The newly released images show members of the Massaco tribe living nude and carrying wooden sticks while moving their villages within the forest from season to season. Despite increasing threats of deforestation and illegal activities in the region, they continue to thrive in their traditional way of life. There is much that remains a mystery about them, The Guardian echoed the sentiments of Funai expert Altair Algayer.
Algayer, who committed to documenting the Massaco tribe and protecting its land since 1992, believes the population increased greatly. "In our most recent expeditions and through satellite images, we saw more tapiris, or traditional palm shelters, which could indicate that there are already around 300 people," stated Algayer, according to The Sun. This suggests the tribe's population more than doubled since the early 1990s, when it was estimated at 100 to 120 people.
The Massaco community is completely self-sufficient and became the first territory in Brazil protected exclusively for uncontacted populations. They are skilled hunters, using longbows nearly three meters long, which are among the longest ever encountered in the Amazon. However, much about their culture remains unknown. "We have no idea how they shoot their arrows. Other indigenous people also try to understand, laugh, and say it's impossible," said Algayer, as reported by 20 Minutes.
To protect their territory from intruders, the Massaco people plant thousands of sharp spikes in the ground, often well camouflaged, capable of piercing feet and puncturing tires. These defenses were found more frequently and closer to the borders of civilization, sending a clear message to "keep out."
Since the implementation of the "no-contact" policy in 1987, Funai adopted innovative measures to protect communities like the Massaco, including the periodic placement of metal tools at strategic points to dissuade uncontacted individuals from venturing into farms or logging camps. This approach proved effective, allowing the tribe to maintain their cultural and biological integrity without direct contact.
Despite these efforts, the Massaco community faces increasing threats from agribusinesses, loggers, miners, and drug traffickers. Illegal land grabs and environmental devastation continue to endanger the tribe, making their region one of the most deforested areas of the Brazilian Amazon.
Funai operates with chronically insufficient funds and a small group of unarmed field staff, complicating efforts to protect isolated communities. Funai's territorial protection director, Janete Carvalho, echoed concerns about the drop in staffing in recent years.
International experts emphasize the importance of safeguarding these communities. "In Brazil and other parts of the continent, the steamroller of agribusiness and other predatory forces are prevailing over laws and Indigenous rights," warned Antenor Vaz, who was one of the first to implement no-contact with the Massaco in 1988, as reported by The Guardian.
The resurgence of uncontacted populations like the Massaco was seen as a promising sign for the preservation of these fragile peoples. "These peoples have a right to live, to their land, and chosen lifestyles, but respecting the rights of isolated Indigenous peoples is also fundamental to preserving tropical forests," stated Paulo Moutinho, co-founder of the Institute for Environmental Research in the Amazon, according to The Guardian.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq