An extinct tribe after the death of 'the loneliest person in the world'

When officials from Brazil's indigenous peoples protection agency approached the hut in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, they confirmed their fears. They are witnessing the first recorded disappearance of an isolated tribe in the country's history, according to the New York Times.

The only surviving man of an unknown tribe is confirmed dead. He was found dead in a hammock, and with him was a culture and answers to a thousand questions.

Sad milestone

Even this man's name is a mystery. He is known only as the 'pit man' because of the dozens of holes he has dug over the years. His age can only be guessed, as officials say he appears to be around 60 years old.

It's a sad milestone for a country that has seen efforts to protect indigenous peoples decline in recent years. According to the New York Times, it is because the government in this country has prioritized exploiting the Amazon forest, rather than protecting this precious resource.

Officials from the Brazilian National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI) found the body of "the loneliest man in the world" on August 23 during a patrol in the Tanaru area, in Rondônia state.

FUNAI said the man may have died in a natural way. The agency sent crime experts to examine the scene and then took the body to the capital, Brasília, for an autopsy.

"The loneliest man in the world" passed away in August.

A FUNAI official also revealed that the body will be taken to the forest for burial. According to Marcelo dos Santos, an indigenous expert, the man's body was covered with feathers, thereby not ruling out the possibility that he was waiting for his death.

While this is the first recorded disappearance of an isolated tribe, experts say other communities may have gone extinct without being recorded.

FUNAI has reported evidence of at least 114 isolated groups in Brazil, but only 28 communities have confirmed existence. As a result, the remaining 86 tribes did not benefit from government protection.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has supported the industries that fuel the destruction of the Amazon forest. That has led to record levels of deforestation.

The leader has loosened regulations to expand farms and logging operations in the Amazon, and cut protections for indigenous groups and protected areas.

He also cut federal funding and staffing, thereby weakening indigenous and environmental law enforcement agencies.

'Many of these tribes are extinct without even the state or society being aware of it. It's very serious," said Guilherme Martins, an indigenous expert at FUNAI.

According to the expert, as long as FUNAI does not officially confirm the existence of these communities, their territory will not be protected.

Hide numbers

With the implementation of protective policies, some tribes can avoid extinction.

Some officials warn that FUNAI has not been proactive enough in identifying new isolated tribes. The certification will allow the lands where they live to be protected.

In Rondônia, the sole inhabitant of the 8,000-hectare area lived in complete isolation for at least 26 years, after the rest of his tribe were murdered by encroachers.

Sharing with Mr. Santos, locals confirmed at least two attacks against this tribe. They once received tainted sugar, and another occurred in the 1990s, when about 6 remaining members were almost shot to death.

This man has dug dozens of holes over the years.

Mr. Santos said that what happened to the people of the 'pit dwellers' tribe was genocide.

FUNAI contacted this man directly in 1996. According to Santos, the man was found hiding in the hut.

'We went around the area looking for his house where he was hiding. We tried to talk, and also provide corn and bows, but he was extremely scared and very aggressive. From this moment on, we had to respect his isolation," Santos said.

A year later, FUNAI restricted access to the area to prevent entry by loggers and ranchers. That protective ordinance remains in effect through 2025.

This man will flee when he realizes the presence of any agents patrolling the area. He was called a 'pit man' by FUNAI agents as well as the Brazilian media for having dug dozens of holes over the years.

'The belongings and utensils he used were similar to those of indigenous groups throughout the region. The only thing that makes him different is the existence of these holes," Santos said.

Some of the holes dug outside the huts contain spikes, and officials believe they were used for hunting. In addition, many scratches appeared inside the hut.

'This is probably a sign that they carry a mystical meaning,' Mr Santos said.

Even with protective measures in place, the forest in this area was still widely destroyed until about 13 years ago. Attacks on the last man alive continued, including one by armed gunmen in 2009, local reports said.

Fiona Watson, director of research at Survival International, said she accompanied FUNAI agents on an expedition in 2005. The trip was made to confirm that the man was still alive and to monitor the area. This area looks for signs of illegal activity.

'For me, he was a symbol of resistance and resilience,' Ms Watson said. According to her, this man can survive on his own, not talking to anyone and avoiding all contact.