Members of the Mashco Piro, one of the world’s largest uncontacted tribes, were spotted near a Yine village in Peru’s Amazon. The sightings alarm activists who warn the group is under stress from logging expansion and infrastructure encroaching on their territory. A bridge under construction by a logging company could give outsiders year-round access to Mashco Piro lands, raising disease and conflict risks.
The tribe avoids outside contact to protect its culture and health, with even common illnesses posing deadly threats due to lack of immunity. Two loggers were killed last year after entering Mashco Piro lands, highlighting the dangers of encroachment into isolated territories.
Enrique Añez, president of the nearby Yine community, confirmed the tribe’s presence near Nueva Oceania village, calling the situation “very worrying.” Heavy machinery is reportedly cutting paths through the jungle, encroaching further into the Mashco Piro’s territory along a key river access point.
Survival International warned that encounters between loggers and the tribe could become violent, as operations continue despite past incidents. The Forest Stewardship Council has suspended certification for the logging company, Maderera Canales Tahuamanu, until November, but logging appears ongoing.
Peru’s Culture Ministry said it oversees Indigenous protections, has doubled its budget, and operates control posts with 59 protection agents and over 440 patrols. Environmentalists caution that the new bridge could accelerate deforestation and push the Mashco Piro closer to villages, increasing the likelihood of conflict.
Lawyers and advocates stress that extractive activities continue despite evidence they endanger both isolated Indigenous groups and workers in the region. Madre de Dios, bordering Brazil and Bolivia, remains a biodiversity hotspot threatened by illegal mining, logging, and other activities bringing outsiders into contact with the tribe.