Photos Of South America's Most Endangered People

For centuries, the Ayoreo people lived nomadically as hunter-gatherers, but in the late 20th century, contact with outsiders changed all that.

Like many indigenous groups, the Ayoreo found their way of life under attack. For many, this marked a shift to a sedentary lifestyle. For a select few, it signaled the need to retreat deeper into isolation with the outside world.

But choosing to remain isolatedhas been no guarantee for safety.