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The Enxet are an indigenous people of about 17,000 living in the Gran Chaco region of western Paraguay. Originally hunter-gatherers, many are now forced to supplement their livelihood as laborers on the cattle ranches that have encroached upon their dwindling natural forest habitat.[1] Nevertheless, the Enxet are engaged in an ongoing conflict with the government and ranchers,[1] who want to destroy what remains of the forest to open the land for massive settlement. Today,[when?] only a handful of Enxet are still maintain their traditional way of life, while the majority live in small settlements sponsored by various missionary organizations.[1] The Enxet and Enlhet languages are still vigorous.