Do not contact the uncontacted

The discovery of a previously unknown tribe in the Amazon demonstrates how, even in these times, the world is still full of surprises.

It is believed there are more than 100 uncontacted tribes around the world, although how this is determined is difficult to understand if they have not been contacted. But what remains vitally important is for "civilised" mankind to leave these tribes to their own resources and not interfere.

While it may be tempting to "map" their history and determine how they have existed, and still exist, previous attempts to do so with other tribes have resulted in catastrophe.

In some cases the scientists who wanted to assuage their curiosity took with them more than scientific instruments - they inadvertently took illness and disease for which the tribes had no immune system, so many members subsequently died.

Having learnt their lesson, scientists are now rightly saying of the tribes: "Leave well alone!"