Becoming tracajá

Within the ethnographic landscape of the Middle Purus River, Amazonas, the Paumari people stand out for their floating lifestyle, primarily inhabiting lake shores, beaches, and Amazonian floodplains. Their close relationship with these aquatic environments has allowed these “amphibious Indians” to develop unique fishing skills and strategies. This photo captures the final moment of a “dive fishing” expedition. The practice consists of catching yellow-spotted river turtles (Podocnemis unifilis), which inhabit flooded forests, by diving and surprising them on partially submerged logs.