A US man has been detained after attempting to contact an isolated tribe on an Indian island, risking the health of its small population.
While traveling abroad, it’s common to explore the sights, tourist attractions, and cuisine. However, venturing to a secluded island to approach a tribe unfamiliar with outsiders is not advisable.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a 24-year-old American tourist, learned this lesson firsthand, as he did not conduct adequate research before his journey.
Polyakov journeyed for nine hours in a small inflatable boat to reach North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean.
This island is inhabited by the Sentinelese, one of the most isolated tribes worldwide.
The Sentinelese wish to remain disconnected from the modern world and its culture. Consequently, the Indian government prohibited travel within three nautical miles of North Sentinel Island in 1956 to prevent disturbances.
Since that year, the area has been designated as a tribal reserve.
Polyakov seemed unaware of this restriction or failed to research it before embarking on his boat with inappropriate gifts.
Visiting people likely to be unwelcoming should involve offering gifts, but bringing items like Diet Coke and coconuts was not well-thought-out.
Reports indicate that Polyakov informed Indian police of his departure from Khurmadera beach, approximately 19 miles from the capital, at 1 a.m. on March 29, reaching the island’s northeastern shore by around 10 a.m.
He used binoculars from his boat to watch the beach, hoping to spot a tribesperson.
Upon realizing he wouldn’t encounter anyone, Polyakov ventured onto the beach, left his gifts on the sand, and waited for someone to appear.
When no one emerged, he recorded a video, returned to his boat, and blew a whistle for an hour to draw attention before heading back to Khurmadera beach.
Local fishermen reported him to authorities, leading to his arrest.
You may wonder how his actions could have endangered the tribe.
The Sentinelese people have never been exposed to modern diseases, making them extremely vulnerable with no immunity to fight off infections that can be transmitted by outsiders.
Some activists believe that diseases like the flu or measles could devastate their community, which numbers between 100-300 individuals.
Caroline Pearce, director of the charity Survival International, which advocates for threatened tribes, described Polyakov’s actions as “deeply disturbing.”
The Times quoted her statement: “It beggars belief that someone could be that reckless and idiotic. This person’s actions not only endangered his own life, they put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk.”
Polyakov is now facing charges for entering a restricted area.
The tribe is known for being unwelcoming; a similar incident occurred in 2018 when an American missionary, John Allen Chau, was killed while attempting to convert the tribe to Christianity.
Thus, respecting their wish to remain undisturbed is indeed the prudent course of action.