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Story Behind 'Lost Tribe' Photos Revealed

AOL
Posted: 2008-06-22 19:01:27
Filed Under: Science News, World News
(June 22) - It wasn't so much a hoax as a publicity stunt. The famous photos of the "lost tribe" in the Amazon forest are real, but the remarkable story behind them is not.

Last month, Jose Carlos Meirelles claimed that the Amazon warriors painted in red with arrows pointed at his aircraft were from an "undiscovered tribe" along the Brazilian-Peruvian border that had never been in contact with other humans.

The Observer on Sunday reported that Meirelles confessed that his group, the Brazilian Indian Protection Agency, otherwise known as Funai, had known the whereabouts of the tribe, flew over the group to take pictures and published the photos to bolster a campaign to protect endangered tribes in the area from the logging industry.

"When we think we might have found an isolated tribe," he told al-Jazeera, "a sertanista like me walks in the forest for two or three years to gather evidence and we mark it in our [global positioning system]. We then map the territory the Indians occupy and we draw that protected territory without making contact with them. And finally we set up a small outpost where we can monitor their protection."

Meirelles said he borrowed a plane for a few days and flew over a 150-kilometer area where he thought the tribe may be, based off GPS data he had about the tribe as well as Google Earth co-ordinates that showed clearings in the forest. After seeing only huts for two days, he finally spotted the Indians hours before he had to return the plane.

"When I saw them painted red, I was satisfied, I was happy," he said. "Because painted red means they are ready for war, which to me says they are happy and healthy defending their territory."

The existence of the tribe had actually been known for about a century. Funai learned about this small group of Indians about 20 years ago.

Though many are likely to criticize Meirelles, Survival International and Funai for the flyover – clearly disturbing the tribe – they all defend their decision to take the photos and publish them, claiming the media coverage over the photos last month forced Peru to re-examine its logging policy near where the tribe lives.

Meirelles says he has no regrets and plans to keep the tribe’s location secret. "They can decide when they want contact, not me or anyone else."

2008 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
2008-06-22 18:34:38
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gingsims 07:00:49 PM Jun 30 2008

The ONLY 'LOST TRIBE' is the demogogaryrats that want to elect that SOCIOFASCIST HOBAMA, for president!

pkonk 02:34:35 PM Jun 30 2008

karensbrackett 04:14:18 PM Jun 27 2008 Report This! How pathetic... our culture will spend money to save a whale... but we won't help humans who are looking quiet helpless?Are you nuts?! They don't need our help for anyting. Do you think they would be better off if we gave them SUV's and a gas card? Christ, lady, don't be so self-centered as to think our lives are better than theirs. They'll be in heaven long before you or I.

cine1986 08:03:00 PM Jun 27 2008

jonitreo 11:25:14 AM Jun 26 2008 Report This! Has anyone seen the movie, "The Dog People" "The Last of The Dog People" or something like that?you mean Last of the Dog Men?

lehmanncsinc 05:21:31 PM Jun 27 2008

They DONT NEED OUR HELP OR ANYONES HELP dumb ass... They give 2 sh its about us lol Thats why their alone doing their own fn thing, And if You would of read the article you would understand the magnitude towards making contact if ever do so. Duh! karensbracket Those humans have been living like that for thousands of years. Look up the sentinels indians near india. Scientists believe those Indians have been there for 60,000 years believe it. Evolutionist would love to do research there but the indians throw spears and shoot errows at anyone who lands on their island........ Look it up!!!!!

karensbrackett 04:14:18 PM Jun 27 2008

How pathetic... our culture will spend money to save a whale... but we won't help humans who are looking quiet helpless? Not that I believe these photos are real... more evidence is needed to convince me of that... but this is really quiet sad. We are not the crew of the Enterprise exploring strange new worlds... this is planet Earth.... if you see someone in that kind of need of help... you should help... and not raise money to study them like they are apes.

youliedog 10:21:19 PM Jun 26 2008

"Starman1"...........Unable to contact you........Chemtrails over Oregon,West Coast. 5:30 PM, 06/26/08

lehmanncsinc 10:18:53 PM Jun 26 2008

man there are some real dumb fn people.. like where do they get their makeup? u dumb f ck they make it themselves....people who are that fn stupid should have to register them dumd fn selves with the state. Or be forced to where a sign around their dumb ass neck stating their iq.....

danielistical 05:32:44 PM Jun 26 2008

if they have any sense they will stay lost before they get contaminated by the outside world. not to mention other disieses they are not ready for.

tinkerbrat25 01:35:27 PM Jun 26 2008

wow people are really ignorant, what exactly are these people free loading on, they build their own houses with the resources around them they dont use city lights or pipes, they dont even get the same type of food we do... they are self sustained and dont need police, hospitals, fire trucks or anything... they dont even live in a city.... ignorant people really make me laugh...

jonitreo 11:25:14 AM Jun 26 2008

Has anyone seen the movie, "The Dog People" "The Last of The Dog People" or something like that?

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