A deliberate isolation
In the far western corner of Brazil's Amazonas state lies the Vale do Javari Indigenous Territory, an area of 85,444 square kilometers sealed off from the modern world. This protected reserve, larger than Austria, holds the highest concentration of uncontacted peoples on Earth. Estimates by Brazil's indigenous affairs agency, FUNAI, suggest at least 11 to 16 distinct isolated groups reside within its borders. The territory was formally demarcated in 1996, solidifying a government policy established in the 1980s to halt the disastrous history of forced contact. The official position is now one of distance monitoring, acknowledging the right of these populations to remain isolated and protecting them from the diseases and violence that have decimated other tribes.
This policy of non-contact responds to historical tragedies. Encounters with the outside world have repeatedly led to devastating epidemics of common illnesses like influenza and measles, to which isolated peoples have no immunity. It is not uncommon for 50% of a tribe's population to be wiped out within a year of first contact. The policy recognizes that their isolation is a deliberate choice, often born from traumatic encounters with outsiders like loggers and miners in the past. FUNAI acts as a guardian, monitoring the territory for illegal incursions and gathering data from a safe distance to ensure the groups' continued survival.