To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Expert On Tribes Shot And Killed By Arrow In Brazil

Expert On Tribes Shot And Killed By Arrow In Brazil

The man was part of a programme that aimed to help protect remote tribes

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

An expert on Amazon tribes was shot and killed by an arrow after approaching an indigenous tribe in Brazil.

Rieli Franciscato, 56, headed up a programme that aimed to protect remote tribes on behalf of the Brazilian government's indigenous affairs office, FUNAI.

According to the Daily Mail, Franciscato died on Wednesday (9 September) while in the Seringueiras region of Rondônia state.

Facebook

FUNAI did not reveal how he died, but officials and media in the country have since confirmed the details.

Witnesses said he was shot with an arrow while monitoring a tribe known as the 'Cautario River isolated group', according to journalist Gabriel Uchida.

A police officer, who was with Franciscato at the time, said on social media: "He cried out, pulled the arrow from his chest, ran 50 meters and collapsed, lifeless."

He was reportedly rushed to the nearest hospital but died soon after.

Uchida told AFP that the tribe are usually 'known as a peaceful group'.

He added: "The last time they appeared in the region was in June... It was a larger group, very peaceful. They even left presents at someone's house.

"This time, there were just five armed men - a war party. That means something must have happened to make them seek 'revenge'."

Indigenous groups such as these have been reported to hit out when poachers or illegal miners come onto their land, with Uchida adding that there had been some reports of such activity in the area in recent times.

Back in 2018, a US missionary was killed with arrows after he attempted to visit a remote tribe living on a protected island in the Indian Ocean.

John Allen Chau and he had travelled to North Sentinel Island - one of the world's most isolated islands - with the intention of converting the people who live there to Christianity but was killed soon after arriving.

A spokesperson for International Christian Concern said: "We here at International Christian Concern are extremely concerned by the reports of an American missionary being murdered in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to both John's family and friends. A full investigation must be launched in this this murder and those responsible must be brought to justice."

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Rieli Franciscato

Topics: World News