Kamal Ghorui
In today’s world, where satellites can track virtually all areas on Earth’s surface, it sounds unlikely that there are populations that have managed to remain completely away from the influence of modern civilisation. However, in the dense jungles of the Amazon, there are some tribes that have consciously decided not to have any contact at all with the modern world.Recently captured drone footage provides some very interesting insights into how such isolated societies actually live. Through this footage, it is possible to see these individuals making their way through the dense jungles of the Amazon. Alert and wary of their surroundings, they seem very close to nature.
What Survival International reveals about uncontacted tribes in Brazil
Uncontacted tribes in Brazil, as reported by Survival International, are amongst the most vulnerable societies in the world. It is only by protecting the land of these people that they can survive.It is believed that Brazil holds the record for having the highest number of uncontacted tribes anywhere in the world. Over 100 uncontacted tribes have been discovered that inhabit the Amazon rainforests. For these tribes, the rainforests are the only source of food and shelter.The vulnerability of the tribes lies in the fact that they do not have any kind of resistance to diseases prevalent elsewhere. Thus, contact, even if unintentional, is fatal for these people. It is on this account that there is a strong advocacy for keeping away from them altogether.
What the drone footage actually shows
The drone video shows clusters of indigenous individuals traversing through forest clearings and river banks. Most seem to be vigilant, even armed at times, which speaks to the enduring tradition of protecting themselves from outside dangers.Drones provide images without putting humans directly on the ground, which is an improvement over previous aerial views. It helps to verify their existence without much danger.But the mere fact that there is video evidence poses another problem. It implies that the tribes might not be as physically isolated as before.
Why do these tribes choose isolation
The concept of isolation in this case is not an indicator of primitiveness; rather, it is a conscious decision that they have made.A significant number of such tribes withdrew further into the jungle when they experienced hostility, relocation, and disease outbreaks during previous interactions with outsiders. Isolation then became their mode of survival.In today’s context, being cut off from the rest of the world is an act of defiance against society.
The growing threats they face
Although they have tried to maintain their isolation, these tribes are under growing pressure from the outside world.The practices of illegal logging, mining, and deforestation are gradually inching their way toward the lands where they live. In some instances, whole tracts of the forests where they live are disappearing or getting wiped out.These invasions compel them to shift from one place to another, raising the chances of coming into contact with strangers. Such meetings might prove to be devastating, disrupting their lifestyle as well as introducing them to diseases they cannot handle.
The ethical question behind the images
Even as drone videos might increase awareness about issues, there is also the aspect of ethical questions.It can become very difficult to distinguish between documentation and violation. Making uncontacted tribes a focus of worldwide interest means that we run the risk of dehumanising them by viewing them as curiosities when they have rights too.Most scholars have stated that the aim should be protection and not publicity.These photos taken from the drone are not only seen as a rare glimpse into an unexplored world, but also as a warning.The tribes do not wait to be discovered; they choose to stay undetected. They mustn’t be known to the outer world, but rather how well they can keep their borders.And the moment their borders are violated, there is no turning back.
