Indigenous leader Raoni undergoes surgery, remains in intensive care in Brazil

Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire, a globally recognized advocate for the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous peoples, has been hospitalized in serious condition in Brazil. The chief, estimated to be over 90 years old, underwent surgery for an intestinal obstruction at a São Paulo hospital after being transferred from the Amazon region.

Raoni was initially admitted to an intensive care unit in the Amazon on Sunday before being moved to the Hospital de la Universidad de São Paulo on Friday. Doctors reported he was suffering from intestinal obstruction, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia. He is currently in intensive care, described as being in a "grave but stable" condition following the minimally invasive surgery, which reportedly proceeded without complications.

This latest hospitalization follows a series of health concerns for the Kayapo chief. Earlier this year, he was treated for a hernia and diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart problems. Despite his declining health, Raoni remained an active figure, participating in the Campamento Tierra Libre, a major indigenous mobilization event in Brasília, in April.

Known internationally since the 1970s for his activism against deforestation and for indigenous land rights, Raoni first gained global attention during an international tour in 1989. His enduring commitment to protecting the Amazon and its inhabitants continues to be a significant voice in environmental and indigenous rights advocacy.