The Last Hunter-Gatherers: Life Inside a Nomadic Tribe in Nepal (12 Photos)

In history books, hunter-gatherers belong to a bygone era tens of thousands of years ago, long before the dawn of agriculture and animal husbandry. It was a grueling way of life that most societies abandoned with the rise of civilization. Yet deep in the forests of Nepal, a small nomadic tribe known as the Raute still survives solely by hunting wild game and foraging. Captured by photographer Andrew Newey in the Surkhet district of eastern Nepal, these striking images offer a rare look at an existence stripped down to its bare essentials. Everyone, regardless of age, pulls their weight to support the community. Today, fewer than 150 members remain, and the tribe teeters on the brink of extinction.







The Raute are hunter-gatherers particularly skilled at trapping monkeys, which are a staple of their diet. Pictured here, a tribal elder returns from a successful hunt.





Because they cultivate no crops, the Raute rely entirely on the wilderness around them. Here, a tribesman chops into a fallen trunk.



The women of the tribe wear brightly colored clothing.



Every member contributes to the life of the settlement, whether by chopping firewood or sorting grain. Here, a child carries a bundle of cut wood on their back.



As nomads, the Raute are constantly on the move. None hold formal jobs or attend school. Pictured: a young girl in traditional dress.



Much like hunter-gatherer societies thousands of years ago, tasks among the Raute are divided by gender. Pictured here, women sort grain and prepare meals.



The Raute are skilled woodcarvers, creating wooden vessels and items that they trade with local villagers for cloth and other necessities when needed.



Very little is known about the Raute, as they keep strictly to themselves and rarely interact with the surrounding population.



Life for the Raute is harsh, made even harder by the ongoing destruction of their habitat—a crisis that forces them to relocate with increasing frequency.



In recent years, as deforestation has accelerated, the Raute have been forced into greater contact with nearby settled communities.



Traditionally, the Raute live in shelters built from leaves and branches, draping bright fabrics over the frames for extra protection from the elements.