A video showing for the first time members of an isolated tribe living in the Amazon has been released by American conservationist Paul Rosolie. The footage shows Amazon tribe members by a riverbank, watching the conservationist’s team with apparent fear. While they initially appear frightened and speak anxiously among themselves, the tension eventually subsides and they begin joking with each other, pointing at the scientists with their “strange” appearance and clothing. Speaking on Lex Fridman’s podcast, the conservationist revealed this was one of the most intense moments in his career.
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The conservationist’s rare encounter with Amazon tribe members
Describing their rare encounter, the conservationist said he was trying to decode their body language, while they appeared to feel threatened. It’s worth noting that this is perhaps the only time Amazon tribe members have been recorded so clearly on video. Most footage released over the years has shown them blurry and from a distance.
“Look how they move. Look how they point. Look at that one with the bow. I was just thinking about where the arrow would come from. But then something changed. As the distance decreased, the tribe members began lowering their weapons,” Paul Rosolie said. “These are warriors… they really looked ready for war. Then they stood relaxed and were smiling,” Rosolie added.
Researchers estimate that nearly 200 unknown tribes still exist worldwide, most of them in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and Peru.
NEW: Never-before-seen footage of an uncontacted Amazonian tribe has been released by author Paul Rosolie on Lex Fridman’s show.
The tribe was seen lowering their weapons before they were given a canoe of food.
Rosolie is a conservationist who has reportedly spent two decades… pic.twitter.com/a0WF9O2Pof
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 16, 2026
