First Photographs of Uncontacted Massaco Tribe in Brazilian Rainforest Show Population Growth, Funai's Protection

Dec 22, 2024, 05:00 PM

Automatic cameras in the Brazilian rainforest have captured the first photographs of the previously uncontacted Massaco tribe, providing the world with its initial glimpse of this isolated Amazonian community. The images, which show a group of men, suggest that the Massaco population is growing despite environmental threats. The tribe, named after the river that runs through their territory, remains largely a mystery, with their language, social structure, and beliefs unknown. The Brazilian National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai) estimates that the Massaco population has at least doubled since the early 1990s, reaching between 200 to 250 individuals. Funai has been working to protect the tribe's territory and uses the practice of leaving metal tools as gifts to dissuade uncontacted people from venturing into farms or logging camps.