According to the organization, these isolated groups are increasingly under threat from infrastructure projects, illegal mining operations, and drug trafficking activities, often occurring far from public scrutiny and lacking adequate governmental safeguards.

The report from the NGO highlights that approximately 65% of these communities are endangered by deforestation, around 40% by mining activities, and nearly 20% by agricultural industry expansion.

What are the threats faced by uncontacted communities?

Agricultural interests are also pushing closer to some of these communities.

“This would mean the extermination of our uncontacted relatives.”

Herlin Odicio campaigns on behalf of the Kakataibo community. Source: Getty / Leon Neal

Fiona Watson, Survival International’s campaigns director, said while isolation was a defining factor in these people’s lives, their remoteness could also make these groups vulnerable.

“They could die of that cold; they don’t have the immunity.”

“There’s a railway line being planned in Brazil, in the Amazon, to transport agricultural produce from the rich agricultural centre-west, up to the northeast, therefore out to the Atlantic to export produce that potentially affects three uncontacted Indigenous peoples,” she said.

Actor Richard Gere advocates for the protection of the rights of uncontacted Indigenous communities. Source: Getty / Leon Neal

For actor Richard Gere, a supporter of the organisation and a long-time activist, the lack of strong protections pointed to something more fundamental, where biases and stereotypes shape public debate.