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A man named Tomas Anez Dos Santos worked in a small glade deep in the of Peru jungle when he noticed sounds drawing near through the thick jungle.

He became aware that he had been hemmed in, and stood still.

“A single individual stood, aiming with an arrow,” he states. “And somehow he detected that I was present and I began to escape.”

He ended up encountering members of the Mashco Piro. For decades, Tomas—residing in the small village of Nueva Oceania—was practically a neighbor to these itinerant tribe, who shun contact with strangers.

A new document issued by a rights organization indicates remain no fewer than 196 described as “remote communities” left globally. The Mashco Piro is believed to be the largest. The study says 50% of these tribes may be eliminated in the next decade unless authorities don't do more measures to safeguard them.

It claims the biggest risks come from deforestation, digging or drilling for crude. Isolated tribes are extremely at risk to common sickness—therefore, the report states a danger is posed by exposure with proselytizers and social media influencers in pursuit of engagement.

In recent times, the Mashco Piro have been venturing to Nueva Oceania more and more, based on accounts from locals.

Nueva Oceania is a fishermen's community of several clans, located elevated on the shores of the local river deep within the of Peru rainforest, a ten-hour journey from the nearest settlement by canoe.

The area is not designated as a preserved area for isolated tribes, and logging companies work here.

Tomas reports that, on occasion, the racket of industrial tools can be heard continuously, and the community are witnessing their woodland disrupted and ruined.

Within the village, people state they are torn. They fear the Mashco Piro's arrows but they hold deep regard for their “relatives” dwelling in the woodland and desire to protect them.

“Let them live according to their traditions, we can't change their traditions. This is why we maintain our space,” explains Tomas.

Inhabitants in Nueva Oceania are anxious about the destruction to the tribe's survival, the threat of violence and the chance that loggers might expose the Mashco Piro to illnesses they have no immunity to.

During a visit in the village, the tribe made themselves known again. Letitia, a young mother with a two-year-old daughter, was in the forest picking food when she noticed them.

“We heard cries, shouts from others, a large number of them. Like there was a whole group shouting,” she told us.

This marked the first time she had met the group and she escaped. An hour later, her head was persistently racing from terror.

“As exist deforestation crews and companies clearing the woodland they are escaping, maybe due to terror and they arrive near us,” she said. “It is unclear how they might react to us. That's what terrifies me.”

Two years ago, two individuals were confronted by the group while catching fish. One man was struck by an bow to the gut. He recovered, but the other person was located dead days later with nine injuries in his body.

The administration maintains a policy of non-contact with secluded communities, rendering it illegal to initiate encounters with them.

This approach was first adopted in the neighboring country following many years of campaigning by tribal advocacy organizations, who noted that initial interaction with isolated people resulted to entire groups being eliminated by illness, destitution and hunger.

In the 1980s, when the Nahau community in Peru came into contact with the world outside, 50% of their people died within a short period. During the 1990s, the Muruhanua community suffered the similar destiny.

“Isolated indigenous peoples are very susceptible—in terms of health, any exposure could spread diseases, and including the most common illnesses may wipe them out,” explains Issrail Aquisse from a Peruvian indigenous rights group. “In cultural terms, any interaction or interference could be very harmful to their way of life and well-being as a group.”

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