An isolated Amazonian tribe, the Mashco Piro, is experiencing increased contact with external communities and facing threats from deforestation, resource extraction, and disease. Efforts to protect the tribe's traditional way of life are underway, with varied approaches in different regions of the Peruvian Amazon.
Encounters in Nueva Oceania
Tomas Anez Dos Santos, a resident of Nueva Oceania, a small fishing village in the Peruvian Amazon, reported an encounter with the Mashco Piro, a nomadic group that maintains non-contact with outsiders. He described being surrounded by Mashco Piro individuals, one of whom was aiming an arrow, before he managed to retreat to the river. Locals in Nueva Oceania state that Mashco Piro people have been appearing more frequently in the area.
Nueva Oceania is not designated as a protected reserve for uncontacted groups, and logging operations occur in the vicinity. Tomas stated that the noise from logging machinery can be heard, and the Mashco Piro's forest is experiencing disturbance. Residents of Nueva Oceania expressed apprehension regarding Mashco Piro arrows but also a desire to protect the group's way of life. Tomas remarked, "Let them live as they live, we can't change their culture. That's why we keep our distance."
Concerns among Nueva Oceania residents include potential damage to the Mashco Piro's livelihood, the risk of violence, and the possibility of disease transmission from loggers to the Mashco Piro, who lack immunity. Letitia Rodriguez Lopez, a villager, recounted hearing shouts from a group of Mashco Piro while picking fruit, an experience she described as causing fear. She speculated that Mashco Piro may be approaching the village due to forest disturbance by loggers. In 2022, two loggers were attacked by Mashco Piro; one sustained an arrow wound and survived, while the other was found deceased with multiple arrow wounds.
Tomas stated that the government has left Nueva Oceania residents to manage a tense situation independently. Villagers, including Tomas, have implemented a safety measure of planting food in their gardens for the Mashco Piro to take. Tomas expressed a desire to communicate this gesture, stating, "I wish I knew the words to say, 'Here have these plantains, it's a gift. You can take them freely. Don't shoot me.'"
Global Context and Policy
A report by Survival International, a human rights organization, identified at least 196 "uncontacted groups" globally, with the Mashco Piro believed to be the largest. The report suggests that half of these groups could face extinction within the next decade if protective measures by governments are insufficient. Identified risks include logging, mining, and oil exploration. Uncontacted groups are highly vulnerable to common diseases, and contact with evangelical missionaries and social media influencers is cited as a threat.
The Peruvian government maintains a non-contact policy with isolated indigenous populations, making it illegal to initiate interactions. This policy was influenced by indigenous rights groups in Brazil, who observed that initial contact often led to significant population decline among isolated communities due to disease, poverty, and malnutrition. Historical examples in Peru include the Nahua people, who experienced a 50% population reduction after initial contact in the 1980s, and the Muruhanua people, who faced a similar outcome in the 1990s. Issrail Aquisse, from the Peruvian indigenous rights group Fenamad, emphasized the epidemiological and cultural vulnerability of isolated groups to any form of contact or interference.
Official Protection Efforts at Nomole Control Post
Approximately 200 km south-east of Nueva Oceania, near the Manu River, a Mashco Piro group lives within an officially recognized forest reserve. Here, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture and Fenamad operate the "Nomole" control post, established in 2013 following conflicts between Mashco Piro and local villages that resulted in fatalities. Antonio Trigoso Ydalgo, the head of the control post, stated his role is to prevent such conflicts.
Mashco Piro individuals at this location appear regularly, sometimes several times a week. Antonio reported that they emerge at a consistent point on the opposite bank of the Manu River and request food items such as plantain, yucca, or sugar cane. Agents typically comply with these requests, partly to deter prolonged waiting that could lead to encounters with tourists or other boats. The control post maintains a garden for growing food, supplemented by supplies from a local village when necessary. This approach has contributed to a reduction in conflict.
Antonio stated he regularly observes around 40 Mashco Piro individuals, including men, women, and children from multiple families. He noted that they name themselves after animals and described observed personality traits: Kamotolo (Honey Bee), the chief, is described as stern by agents; Tkotko (Vulture), another leader, is described as jovial; and Yomako (Dragon), a young woman, is described as having a sense of humor by agents. Agents observed that the Mashco Piro show limited interest in the broader outside world but inquire about the personal lives of the agents, including their families and residences. When one agent was pregnant, the Mashco Piro gifted a rattle made from a howler monkey throat for the baby. They also show interest in agents' clothing, particularly sports attire in red or green. Antonio stated that agents wear old clothing during interactions to prevent them from being taken. Eduardo Pancho Pisarlo, an agent, noted a shift from traditional Mashco Piro clothing crafted from insect fibers to receiving clothes or boots from passing tourist boats.
Agents reported that attempts to inquire about Mashco Piro life in the forest typically result in the conversation being redirected or shut down. Antonio recounted an instance where asking about fire-lighting methods was met with a dismissive response. Agents interpret the Mashco Piro's response of "Don't ask" regarding an absent individual to mean that person has died. Despite years of interaction, agents report having limited knowledge of Mashco Piro daily life or their reasons for remaining in isolation.
Experts hypothesize that the Mashco Piro may be descendants of indigenous peoples who sought refuge in the jungle during the late 19th century, escaping exploitation and massacres by "rubber barons." Experts also suggest a close relation to the Yine people, an indigenous group from south-eastern Peru, with the Mashco Piro speaking an older dialect of the same language. While the Yine are known as river navigators, farmers, and fishermen, the Mashco Piro appear to have adopted a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle, possibly as a safety measure. Antonio stated his understanding is that they establish temporary camps, hunt in the vicinity, and then relocate.
Issrail Aquisse reported that over 100 Mashco Piro individuals have visited the control post over time, seeking food to diversify their diet. He noted that some families depart for extended periods, stating they will return after "a few moons." While protection measures are in place for the Mashco Piro in this area, a government road project is underway that will connect the region to an area with widespread illegal mining. Antonio stated that agents perceive the Mashco Piro do not wish to integrate into the outside world, remarking, "From my experience here at the post, they don't want to become 'civilised.'"