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Yanomami tribe in Brazilian Amazon going extinct

Miners' attack on Yanomami Amazon tribe 'kills dozens'

 

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The Yanomami have previously complained of attacks by illegal miners
 

An attack by gold miners on a group

of Yanomami tribespeople in Venezuela has left up to 80 people dead, according

to campaign groups.

The attack is reported to have taken place last month in the remote

Irotatheri community, close to the border with Brazil.

The miners allegedly set fire to a communal house, with witnesses reporting

finding burnt bodies.

The Yanomami have previously complained of miners encroaching on their

lands.

Due to the community's remote location, it took those who discovered the

bodies days to walk to the nearest settlement to report the incident, according

to campaign group Survival International.

So far three survivors have been accounted for, according to Yanomami

organisations.

A statement from a network of Yanomami groups called on Venezuelan

authorities to investigate the incident and to co-operate with Brazil to

The Awa of Northern Brazil may be the world's most endangered tribe.

About 360 of the lagely monadic tribe have had some contact with the outside world, and about 100 remain uncontacted.

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The Awa are being encroached upon from all sides by loggers, who are clear-cutting and burning the forest that both the Awa and the animals they eat call home. Here, one of the Awa territories is outlined in white, with logging operations throughout the region clearly visible.

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The Awa are hunter-gatherers, and travel in extended family groups of about 30. Families go on gathering expeditions, and extended hunts can last for weeks on end. However, the comparatively small groups are vulnerable to attacks by gunmen hired by loggers and ranchers.