A Brazilian federal court has ordered non-Indigenous occupants to leave the Piripkura Indigenous Territory in Mato Grosso. The October 7 ruling gives them 120 days to remove workers, cattle, machinery, and other belongings. Anyone who remains after the deadline faces a daily fine of 500 Brazilian reais, about $93.
The territory is home to at least two Piripkura people who choose to live without outside contact, and others may also live there. Special protections have restricted outsiders' access since 2008. The new order reverses a 2025 decision that temporarily allowed some ranchers to stay.
Inspections found further illegal forest clearing connected to cattle farming, including 36.83 hectares, or 91 acres, linked to one rancher. Officials also reported hidden airstrips allegedly used for transporting illegal drugs. Funai, Brazil's Indigenous affairs agency, warned that such activity increases the danger of violence and unwanted contact. Contact could expose the Piripkura to diseases against which they have no immunity, meaning their bodies cannot defend them.
Funai will supervise the departure operation, with environmental officials and security agencies providing support if needed. Authorities prefer people to leave voluntarily, although police could assist with forced removal. Poor roads and the presence of cattle and heavy machinery complicate the task. Teams must carry out the operation without contact with isolated people or further environmental damage.
