Tireless Jungle Hunters: The Amazonian Waorani Tribe (9 photos)

There are still peoples on the planet who remain virtually untouched by civilization. The Waorani tribe is one of them. These indigenous people live in the Amazon jungle and lead a primitive way of life. Czech photographer Václav Šilha bravely ventured deep into the rainforest to meet these amazing people. He captured vivid and natural images of the lives of one of the most ancient tribes in the Amazon.





Amazing photographs shed light on the lives of the Amazonian Waorani tribe. Sixty-four years ago, this tribe killed five American missionaries.

Photographer Vaclav Šilha captured intriguing moments in the lives of the indigenous people while visiting them in the Amazon jungle.



They still use spears for hunting.

Women prepare food by regurgitating raw material into metal bowls.



Members of the community go naked and hunt wild boar.



In 1956, the tribe killed five Americans who attempted to convert them to Christianity. The Waorani assumed the outsiders were cannibals.

Czech photographer Vaclav visited the tribe with a local guide who was familiar with the natives and was greeted warmly. He tried not to interfere with their way of life, so that the Waorani would behave naturally.



The photographer was impressed by the strength of their traditions, their knowledge of nature, and their sense of community.



The name "Waorani" means "human beings." These people live in the Amazon jungle and hunt monkeys using poison shot from tubes.



The natives were first discovered by Shell Oil workers in the late 1940s. The Ecuadorian government continues to encroach on their territory through fossil fuel extraction.



The Waorani now use many modern technologies: motorboats, chainsaws, and satellite phones. Nevertheless, they live a simple life, hunting and gathering fruits.

In recent years, deforestation has forced the natives to retreat deeper into the jungle. Unfortunately, their drinking water supplies are depleted due to pollution from oil production.

Papua New Guinea also has the potential to surprise modern people with the primitive culture of its people. An Italian photographer managed to capture the life of the unusual Dani tribe, who live in the mountains and smoke the remains of their ancestors over a fire.