Reclusive Tribe Attacks Loggers With Bows And Arrows For Encroaching On Their Land

The isolated Mashco Piro ethnic group in Peru’s Amazon recently staged a frightening episode in which they attacked loggers who they believed were intruding on their area. According to the Federation of Native Peoples of the Madre de Dios River and Tributaries (FENAMAD), a regional organization that represents 39 Indigenous communities, the Indigenous tribe attacked on July 27 with bows and arrows, wounding one logger.

FENAMAD suspects that illegal logging was occurring on the Mashco Piro’s land, which may have provoked the attack. Concerns have escalated since photos surfaced weeks ago showing members of the uncontacted tribe foraging on a beach within the Peruvian Amazon, a sign that logging activities might be dangerously close to their territory.

A FENAMAD representative, who spoke anonymously due to security concerns, stated that the logging is likely illegal. The area where the attack occurred was previously a forestry concession held by Wood Tropical Forest until November 2022, and no new concessions have been legally established in that area since then. The organization has warned that without proper protection from the Peruvian government, the increasing presence of loggers could lead to devastating consequences, including the potential spread of diseases and heightened violence.

This is not the first violent encounter between loggers and the Mashco Piro. In 2022, two loggers were shot with arrows while fishing, one of whom died as a result. Tensions continue to run high between these groups; however, there has been no word from the Ministry of Culture about this attack or any increased protection efforts.

Survival International, an advocacy group focused on Indigenous rights, has been pressuring the Peruvian government to act right away. “This is a 24-hour emergency,” said Teresa Mayo, researcher of the same. She stressed that it was literally a make-or-break situation, and only government intervention can avoid more tragedies.