An endangered tribe has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest.

The Moxihatetema tribe, living in isolation in the Amazon rainforest, must work hard to protect their territory against threats from illegal gold miners.

According to Generation Voyage, the Moxihatetema tribe was discovered in the Yanomami reserve near the Brazil-Venezuela border in 2015. Maintaining their traditional way of life for thousands of years, this tribe could disappear if they do not protect their land from encroachment by illegal gold miners.

While investigating illegal gold mining activities, government forces recorded images of the Moxihatetema tribe within the territory of the Yanomami people. This area has been protected by the government since 1992 and is home to 22,000 people from various small tribes, including at least three isolated tribes.

The houses are built in a large circle called shabono or yano. Photo: Guilherme Gnipper Trevisan/Hutukara.

Each shabono is the home of a single family, who utilize the available land for hammocks and food storage. It is estimated that around 100 people live in their newly discovered territory. However, the Brazilian government estimates that approximately 5,000 illegal gold miners are lurking around the area and intend to kill the Moxihatetema tribe.

History shows that tribes living in the forests can be in danger when they come into contact with people from the outside world. They are not immune to deadly diseases, and are also prone to conflicts with gold miners.

Approximately 100 people are living there. Photo: Guilherme Gnipper Trevisan/Hutukara.

The Moxihatetema tribe is forced to use water contaminated by mercury and gunpowder from illegal gold miners. According to a 2016 report, approximately 90% of Amazonian indigenous people suffer from mercury poisoning due to illegal mining activities in the surrounding rainforests.

In 1993, the Haximu massacre by illegal gold miners killed 16 indigenous people, leaving survivors to witness their homes burned to the ground. Illegal incursions into these areas are increasing, while the gap between isolated tribes and the outside world is narrowing. The Brazilian government is under pressure from social activists to protect the future of the Amazonian people.

According to VNE