On Tuesday, rare photographs of the Mashco Piro, an uncontacted Indigenous tribe in the Peruvian Amazon, were published. These images show members of the tribe on the banks of a river, close to logging concessions.
Tribe Location and Communication
- Location: The Mashco Piro live in a remote area between two natural reserves in Madre de Dios, Peru.
- Communication: They have minimal contact with the Yine people or other groups, as noted by Survival International.
Logging Impact
- Logging Presence: Several companies hold timber concessions in the Mashco Piro’s territory. Notably, Canales Tahuamanu has built over 200 kilometers of roads for timber extraction.
- Survival International’s Statement: Caroline Pearce, the director of Survival International, commented on the images, highlighting that they show the tribe living close to areas where loggers are about to begin operations. She noted that the Mashco Piro flee from loggers and are seen on beaches collecting Amazon turtle eggs during this time of year.
Recent Observations
- Emerging Trends: According to FENAMAD, a local indigenous rights group, the Mashco Piro have been observed emerging from the rainforest more frequently in recent weeks. This behavior suggests they are searching for food and avoiding the encroaching logging activities.
- Photograph Location and Timing: The photographs were taken at the end of June in the Madre de Dios region, near the Brazilian border.
- Government and Local Reports: On June 28, the Peruvian government reported sightings of the Mashco Piro on the Las Piedras river, 150 kilometers from Puerto Maldonado, the capital of Madre de Dios. The tribe has also been spotted across the border in Brazil.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Where were the rare photographs of the Mashco Piro tribe published?
- A) On Tuesday
- B) On Monday
- C) On Wednesday
- D) On Friday
- What natural feature is shown in the photographs of the Mashco Piro?
- A) Mountains
- B) Beaches
- C) Banks of a river
- D) Dense forest
- Which company has constructed roads within the Mashco Piro’s territory?
- A) Canales Tahuamanu
- B) Amazon Logging Co.
- C) TimberTech
- D) Greenwoods Ltd.
- What activity are the Mashco Piro seen engaging in according to Survival International?
- A) Fishing
- B) Collecting turtle eggs
- C) Building shelters
- D) Planting crops
- When were the photographs of the Mashco Piro taken?
- A) At the beginning of June
- B) At the end of June
- C) In early July
- D) In late July
- What has FENAMAD reported about the Mashco Piro’s recent behavior?
- A) They have been moving closer to urban areas
- B) They are emerging more frequently in search of food
- C) They are establishing permanent settlements
- D) They have ceased their traditional activities
- Where did local residents sight the Mashco Piro according to the Peruvian government?
- A) On the Amazon river
- B) On the Las Piedras river
- C) On the Ucayali river
- D) On the Madre de Dios river