Sea Of Change: Island Tribe At Threat From Global Warming

AN ENDANGERED island tribe has been photographed as their way of life is threatened by rising sea levels

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'Gift from god': A father with his albino daughter who he believes is a blessing

The Kuna people have a population of roughly 50,000 and are spread out across the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama.

A man dressed in brightly-coloured Kuna women's clothes

The islanders, who have one of the highest populations of albinos in the world, have simple lifestyles and maintain unique traditions.

Women are the main breadwinners on the island through their production of brightly coloured garments

Their hefty consumption of cocoa beans is said to explain how many of them live well into old-age, and women are the main breadwinners in the Kuna through their production of 'mola' patterned fabrics.

Wooden 'nutchu' statues are used by the islanders to ward off evil spirits

The designs were traditionally inked on to the skin of the islanders, but have since made a transition to clothing. The finished materials sell to tourists for up to 30 euros.

Even girl's school uniforms are decorated in the tradition mola pattern

The importance of mola sales to family income means mothers typically hope for at least one homosexual son.

A man shows off his colourful mola designs

Adventurous French photographer Eric Lafforgue, 50, took the photos on a visit to the islands in April.

A man who produces traditional Kuna clothing relaxes on a hammock

He said: “Mothers in the Kuna community love to have a gay son since he will help them sew molas and bring revenue to the family."

A Kuna tribeswoman: The Caribbean Sea islander's lives are at threat

Men usually earn their living on the Panama mainland working in agriculture, fishing, and the coconut trade.

Material world: A girl weaving bracelets

Roughly one in every 145 Kuna births is an albino baby with islanders referring to the newborns as ‘children of the moon.’

A man rows his canoe in the paradise setting

Kuna people believe that spirits, or 'purbas' are everywhere and keep crosses above their bed's to ward off malevolent supernatural forces.

Brand power: A woman poses in front of a Pepsi advert

Over the years many different religions have tried to convert the island people to no avail.

Solar-powered telephone boxes on the island threatened by global warming

The Kuna occupy 49 of the archipelago’s 378 islands, which are threatened by rising sea levels and tropical storms.

A Kuna girl looks out across the Caribbean Sea

The Panama government is making plans to move the people to the mainland out of fear their land will be submerged by rising sea levels in the next 20 to 30 years.

A woman dressed in brightly-coloured mola patterns

Eric, a professional photographer with a passion for visiting tribes in remote areas, was based on the Sand Blas island of Mamitupu for a week.

A Colombian trade boat pulls up at Mamitupu

He continued: “The challenge was to discover if they still have the beliefs they are supposed to have as they are now touched by tourism and modernisation.