Alarming sightings of Peruvian tribe

Fear for remote Amazon tribe - 6th October 2025

Fears for a Peruvian tribe have grown after its members entered a nearby village. The Mashco Piro people reject contact with others to protect their traditions. As a result, even a common cold can be deadly for them.

The village Nueva Oceania is where the Yine people live. The Associated Press interviewed its president, Enrique Añez, who said, "It is very worrying. They are in danger".

Survival International believes that development has forced the Mashco Piro into contact. Heavy vehicles are cutting new routes into the jungle, which go through the tribe's territory. Last year, the tribe attacked and killed two loggers who cut down trees on their land.

After a pause, the company Maderera Canales Tahuamanu, which is responsible for the logging, has returned. Survival International believes that this activity is unsafe. Disease could kill off the tribe, as it's done to others before, and there could be fighting.

Survival International researcher Teresa Mayo thinks bad things are about to happen. Although lives are in danger, she doesn't think that the company's likely to stop because of their licence from the Peruvian government.

The logging license includes some Mashco Piro land, which is meant to be protected. It's in a Territorial Reserve that the Peruvian government created in 2002. However, lawyer Cesar Ipenza says that logging companies "do not necessarily know its boundaries".

The Peruvian government told the Associated Press that it had taken steps to protect tribes. The number of territorial reserves has increased. They are also spending twice as much on making sure these groups are protected.