Environment/Nature | 13 June, 2008 [ 15:45 ]
Peru: Uncontacted tribes not Peruvian and not fleeing illegal logging
Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz
After the Brazilian government released pictures it had taken near the Peru-Brazil border of an indigenous tribe that has avoided contact with the outside world, several organizations began efforts to protect the uncontacted people.
It was believed that the tribes were fleeing the area because of illegal logging that was taking place near the Peruvian border with Brazil.
The Peruvian Amazon Indian organization (AIDESEP) affirmed that logging was forcing uncontacted tribes "out of their own territories". Moreover, they urged the government to protect the tribes.
According to biologist Grocio Gil Navarro, the indigenous people that were photographed were not Peruvians.
The head of Alto Purus National Park and the Comunal Purus Reserve clarified that contrary to what many believed, the tribes were not Peruvian.
Furthermore, the head of the reserve assured that the uncontacted individuals were not fleeing from illegal logging that was taking place in the region of Ucayali.
He added that information being given out by certain NGOs was not true, stating that there were several control towers in the area which tracked and protected the tribes.
"We were very surprised," said Navarro, affirming that there were control towers near the areas where NGOs were claiming that illegal logging was taking place.
He stated that he had not received reports of illegal logging and affirmed that uncontacted tribes were not being chased from their homes.
Navarro added that the tribes frequently moved from Peru to Brazil, stating that they were not aware they were moving from one country to another.
He assured that this was part of their migratory habits.
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