Description : A young girl from the Yanomami tribe with a distended belly caused by parasites and malnutrition. Considered the Native Americans of South America, the forest-dwelling tribe live in the Amazon rainforest on both sides of the Brazil-Venezuelan border along the Orinoco iver. With a population of about 23,000, the culture of this community of hunter-agriculturists was under threat after the discovery of gold in their territory brought an influx of miners. Diseases such as malaria and onchocerciasis continues to be a problem, although efforts have been taken to protect the group. Today, the Yanomami Indigenous Territory is recognised as an important conservation group to protect the Amazon?s biodiversity. High Orinoco, Venezuela. July.