Amazonian warriors are catching and stripping loggers illegally destroying the rainforest, in an attempt to protect their territory in north-eastern Maranhao state, Brazil.

The Ka’apor Indians, who along with four other tribes are the legal inhabitants and caretakers of the Alto Turiacu Indian territory in the Amazonian basin, have taken matters into their own hands after what they claim was a lack of sufficient government assistance.

The tribes have sent out their warriors to expel all loggers they find, setting up monitoring camps in the areas that are being illegally exploited.

Reuters photographs detail how these warriors are dealing with the latest threat to their land.

After capturing the loggers the Indian warriors tie them up, stripping them so they cannot escape, and then frequently using the loggers own tools to ruin the already cut logs or equipment.

The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Show all 11 1 /11 The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors The warriors have been sent out by the tribe Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors When they find illegal loggers they capture them Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors Often stripping them naked to prevent them escaping Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors The loggers are closely guarded Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors The warriors will confiscate their tools, taking them and using the machinery to destroy the already harvested trees - preventing their sale Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors Ka'apor warriors stand guard Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors The warriors patrol much of the territory they share with four other tribes Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors They monitor camps in the area Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors Stepping in to prevent more deforestation Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors As much as a third of the Ka’apor Indians’ land has been illegally deforested Reuters The Amazonian tribe fighting against illegal logging Ka'apor Indian warriors These warriors are taking matters in their own hands Reuters

The Ka’apor people are a distinct ethnic group of indigenous Brazilians, who have faced significant tension and escalating violence defending their territory.

Since the 1980s as much as a third of the Ka’apor Indians’ land has been illegally deforested and converted to towns, rice fields and cattle pastures by landless peasants, cattle ranchers, loggers and local politicians.