One viewer marveled at the stark differences in how we live compared to these tribes.
An uncontacted tribes expert has shared rare and compelling footage showing people who have remained entirely isolated from modern society, with the goal of proving their existence.
In a world where technology allows us to instantly connect with someone across the globe, it’s almost unimaginable that there are communities who have no knowledge of things like supermarkets, social media, or smartphones.
Yet, drone footage captured by G. Miranda for Survival International showcases tribespeople who live disconnected from the rest of the world, offering a rare glimpse into their way of life.
The drone flew over North Sentinel Island in India and the Amazon tribes in Brazil, near the Javari River valley close to Peru’s border.
The project aimed to highlight the stark contrast between their existence and our fast-paced, technology-driven lives. It served as a reminder of the vastly different ways people can experience life on this planet.
A video compiling photos of these uncontacted communities has gained significant attention, amassing over 3.5 million views on the Death Island Expeditions YouTube channel since it was uploaded in 2018.
The footage reveals settlements and homes of these tribespeople, offering a closer look at their daily lives.
Some of the images show tribespeople armed with bows and arrows, gazing directly at the drone or photography equipment.
One viewer expressed their amazement, saying: “It blows my mind how different our lives are. The fact that they don’t even know about the existence of grocery stores, factories, phones, social media, everything that makes our society what it is. It’s so surreal,”
Meirelles also noted how the uncontacted tribes of the region were in danger from illegal loggers in Peru.G. Miranda/FUNAI/Survival
FUNAI, or the National Indian Foundation, is the Brazilian government agency tasked with creating and implementing policies for uncontacted indigenous communities.
The agency was responsible for capturing some of the drone images featured in the video.
According to Survival International, a human rights organization, the footage of the uncontacted tribespeople in Brazil was taken as early as 2008.
Reports indicate that FUNAI faced significant pressure from powerful economic groups and politicians to confirm the existence of these tribes as they resisted development projects in the Amazon.
Uncontacted tribes expert José Carlos dos Reis Meirelles Júnior explained: “We did the overflight to show their houses, to show they are there, to show they exist,”
Back in 2008, Meirelles also raised concerns about the dangers illegal loggers posed to the uncontacted tribes, warning that these activities could lead to violent conflicts.
He remarked: “What is happening in this region [of Peru] is a monumental crime against the natural world, the tribes, the fauna and is further testimony to the complete irrationality with which we, the ‘civilised’ ones, treat the world,”
Indigenous leaders in Brazil praised FUNAI’s decision to release the footage, emphasizing the extreme risks these communities face from diseases and violence if they are contacted by outsiders.
Indigenous activist Beto Marubo told National Geographic: “The very fact that these groups are uncontacted makes them particularly vulnerable because they’re invisible to the majority of the public,”
