World’s Most Threatened Awá Tribe Outnumbered 10:1 by Invaders

The Awá tribe, the world's "most threatened" tribe of the Brazilian Amazon, has been outnumbered 10:1 inside just one of their reserves by invaders in the region.

The extent of the peril facing the tribe was revealed on 17 May, 2012 by Brazilian authorities. Officials acknowledged the scale of the emergency after receiving over 20,000 messages of protest following the launch of Survival's campaign to save the Awá tribe from imminent extinction.

To protect the endangered tribe, Oscar-winning film star Colin Firth launched a major Survival International campaign. The centerpiece of the campaign is a short film, featuring an appeal by Colin Firth and music by Grammy-winning composer Heitor Pereira.

The Awá are a small tribe whose territory has been invaded by a vast army of illegal loggers, ranchers and settlers. Astonishing graphics on the campaign website show the devastating destruction of the Indians' forest, which is happening faster than any other Amazon tribe.

Survival International has learned that a government survey estimates there could be up to 4,500 invaders, ranchers, loggers and settlers now occupying just one of the four territories inhabited by the Awá tribe, whose total population stands at no more than 450.

The Awá tribe's land is being destroyed faster than any other Amazon tribe. As the rainy season ends, one of their main hunting areas is now being targeted by loggers.

"Brazil is one of the world's most important countries with one of its most dynamic economies, and it certainly has the resources to protect Awá land," Survival Director Stephen Corry said in a statement. "Can it deliver? If not, and the Awá are destroyed, then is this new 'economic miracle' just for the rich and powerful? Where does 'the rule of law' stand in the hierarchy of money and guns?"

The situation of the Awa tribe is reportedly so critical that several Brazilian experts have spoken of a "genocide" and "extinction".

As per statistical details by Survival International, there are around 360 contacted Awá many of which are survivors of brutal massacres.