Brazil Amazon tribe takes direct action against loggers Published duration 5 September 2014

image copyright Reuters image caption The tribe's warriors set fire to logs found inside their lands as well as trucks, chainsaws and other equipment used by the loggers.

A group of indigenous people in Brazil's Amazon region have detained and expelled loggers working illegally in their ancestral lands.

Leaders of the Ka'apor tribe accused the Brazilian authorities of failing to protect them.

They tied up the loggers and set fire to their trucks and chainsaws, before forcing them out, reported the Reuters news agency.

The logs found at the indigenous territory in the north-eastern state of Maranhao were also destroyed.

The incident happened on 7 August but has only just been reported by Reuters.

The Brazilian indigenous agency, Funai, says it has requested tighter security in the Alto Turiacu Indian Territory to prevent violent clashes.

image copyright Reuters image caption The loggers had their hands tied to their backs before being evicted from the indigenous territory

image copyright Reuters image caption The five tribes that live in the are say they had enough of waiting for government action to stop illegal exploitation in their ancestral lands

image copyright Reuters image caption The indigenous group in the Centro do Guilherme municipality set up monitoring camps to prevent the return of the illegal loggers

image copyright Reuters image caption Locals have set up an Indigenous Environmental Guard to fight for the preservation of their demarcated territory