Brazil: Last Man of Isolated Indigenous Tribe Dies

Officials in Brazil have confirmed that the last man of the untouched Indigenous tribe has died. The man had lived in isolation for 26 years.

BBC News reported that the last tribe man of the isolated Indigenous group was not known. However, he was given the moniker "Man of the Hole" as he dug deep holes. He used some of those deep holes to trap animals, while others appeared to be his own hiding spaces.

The last man of the Indigenous tribe was found on August 23, with his body in a hammock outside his straw hut.

Officials noted that there were no signs of violence and believed that the last tribesman died of natural causes at the age of around 60.

He was the last member of an Indigenous group living in the Tanaru Indigenous area in the Rondônia state, which borders Bolivia.

Last Man of Secluded Indigenous Tribe in Brazil

Officials from Funai, Brazil's Indigenous protection agency, brought in criminal experts to examine the site and sent the man's body to Brasilia for an autopsy, according to The New York Times report.

One official, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said that the agency would conduct DNA testing and would return the body to the forest for his burial.

Indigenous expert Marcelo dos Santos noted a photo of the remains shows the tribesman's body was covered in feathers. It was unsure what the reason behind this but dos Santos said this could imply that the tribal man was waiting for his death.

He added there was no communication, even with another Indigenous tribe, to get to know about him.

Funai only became aware of his survival in 1996 and has been monitoring the area ever since for his safety.

CBS News noted that his home, which was identified as hut No. 53, still had his belonging and utensils in their places.

Brazil's Untouched Indigenous Tribe

The "Man of the Hole" was among the survivors when his tribe was attacked in the 1970s. The attacks have made him refuse contact with outsiders.

Survival International, an Indigenous rights group, noted that the man endured "appalling violence," wherein everyone he knew was killed. The group tweeted that the last man of the tribe is now dead, "and his people's genocide is complete."

The agency noted that the last man's territory is in one of Brazil's most violent regions, which covers a "small island of forest in a sea of vast cattle ranches."

Fiona Watson, the Indigenous group's rights research and advocacy director, noted that it was genocide by cattle ranchers "hungry for land and wealth."

Survival International called for the closure of the Indigenous land until experts can do archeological and anthropological studies on the area. The organization also urged officials to preserve the land as a "memorial" that would remind everyone of the Indigenous genocide.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Home of 'The Man of the Hole' - from New Scientist