Ba'aka pygmies in their forest home, on February 2016. Ba'aka split their time between village and forest. Here, in their forest home, traditional life continues in the face of multiplying challenges ranging from poachers, to ill health. Deep in the rainforests of central Africa lives one of the world’s most mysterious tribes. Known as the Baka people, the tribe are unique in appearance due to their diminutive size. Accomplished forest dwellers, the Baka have managed to eke out an existence for centuries within the hostile rainforests of west and central Africa. Photographer and freelance journalist, Susan Schulman, spent a few days with the Baka people during her time in the Central African Republic. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Baka man prepares to go hunting with his net in, Sangha Forest, Central African Republic, February 2016. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Baka pygmies in their forest home preparing food in, Sangha Forest, Central African Republic, February 2016. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Ba'aka pygmies in their forest home, February 2016. Here, they enact their traditional hunting ceremony. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Ba'aka pygmies in their forest home, February 2016. Small children gleefully mimic the traditions of their community. Here they are enacting the daily hunting ceremony and have summoned up the leaf-cloaked forest spirit, Bobe'e. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Houses of Baka tribes people, in Dzanga-Sangha Reserve, Central African Republic, February 2016. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Ba'aka pygmies in their forest home, February 2016. Ba'aka split their time between village and forest. Here, in their forest home, traditional life continues in the face of multiplying challenges ranging from poachers, to ill health. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Baka men and young boys sit by a fire in the middle of the camp, in Dzanga-Sangha Reserve, Central African Republic, February 2016. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Poachers prepare their weapons in the Baka tribe's camp in, Sangha Forest, Central African Republic, February 2016. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Baka people sing traditional song, in Dzanga-Sangha Reserve, Central African Republic, February 2016. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Ba'aka pygmies in their forest home, February 2016. Ba'aka split their time between village and forest. Here, in their forest home, traditional life continues in the face of multiplying challenges ranging from poachers, to ill health. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)





Poachers hunt at night, using flashlights to stun the duikers and shoot them as they stand paralysed in the light, February 2016. These poachers – all Bilo – killed seven duikers and one monkey in their night of hunting. (Photo by Susan Schulman/Barcroft Images)