I'm having trouble naming this thread

[Shea]

since I don't agree with the title in Wired.

It's about a previously unidentified (by researchers) tribe in the Amazon. Apparently, this tribe's previous contacts have been limited to other tribes.

The importance in identifying and locating these tribes is that Brazil's laws won't protect them until they are located. The link has a number of photos.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/0...ewall=true

A previously uncontacted tribe has been found in Amazon jungle, with aerial photographs giving a glimpse of people who've had no known contact with anyone except their tribal neighbors.
Taken by Brazil's Indian Affairs department, the photographs were released January 31 by Survival International, a tribal advocacy group.

About 100 uncontacted tribes are believed to exist worldwide. They live in remote, resource-rich areas, and are threatened by invasive development. The last such discovery was made in 2008, also in the Amazon. This tribe was spotted at the mouth of the Envira river in western Brazil, not far from the Peruvian border.

"We're trying to bring awareness to uncontacted tribes because they are so vulnerable. Governments often deny that they exist," said Tess Thackara, Survival International's U.S. coordinator. "We're releasing these images because we need evidence to prove they're there."

[Hekate]

Giving you a KnR because this is important news, in its way. I wish them well...

For me the key comment is this one: "About 100 uncontacted tribes are believed to exist worldwide. They live in remote, resource-rich areas, and are threatened by invasive development."

and this one: "I've interviewed people who have gone through the process of contact," said Watson. "One of the things that struck me is that they know more about us than we think they do. They've been watching us. The world is full of cangers, and they've made this decision to remain isolated for survival. But there's a lot of curiosity."

The photo of the family looking up and pointing shows evidence of trade with tribes who do have contact -- a metal pot with handle and at least one machete. Very interesting.

[Julie]

Indeed Hekate, the words "resource-rich" really caught my eye. I am glad these advocacy group is trying to help them. I guess the entire world has not yet been sufficiently exploited, still a few slivers left!

Julie

[DFW]

The thirst for "resource development" will sooner or later wipe these tribes out the way warming oceans have slowly but surely killed off most of the world's underwater coral forests.

[Treestar]

It's so amazing there are still tribes living off the land, in the modern world.

Hopefully there is development of international law now - I think there is some declaration of rights of indigenous peoples. That would recognize their right to the land.

[Cha]

I admire the way they're still able to be isolated and thrive after all this time. It's good to know there are still parts of the Planet that haven't been explored by humans, yet.

I hope they are able to remain protected from encroachers.

I'm wondering about the procreation though. How do they have enough people to find partners who aren't closely related to them? My burning question.