An American YouTuber, 24-year-old Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, faces legal action after making an unauthorized visit to North Sentinel Island, home to the uncontacted Sentinelese tribe. Equipped with a GoPro and local treats, he attempted to engage with the tribe, violating Indian laws aimed at protecting their isolation.
YouTuber Detained After Illegal Visit to Isolated Tribal Island
YouTuber Detained After Illegal Visit to Isolated Tribal Island
A U.S. man has been arrested after attempting to film the reclusive Sentinelese tribe in the Indian Ocean.
On March 29, Polyakov set off alone on an inflatable boat towards North Sentinel, armed with a Diet Coke and a coconut as offerings for the indigenous tribe. Guided by GPS, he reached the northeastern end of the island at 10 a.m., where he scanned the shores with binoculars but saw no immediate response. Undeterred, he made landfall, deposited his offerings, collected sand samples, and filmed his escapade.
Indian police arrested him on March 31 upon his return to Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, over 800 miles off India's mainland. Authorities highlighted the legal ramifications of his actions, as outside interaction with the Sentinelese is strictly forbidden under Indian law. Previous encounters with the tribe have proven fatal, including the case of American missionary John Allen Chau, who was killed in 2018 when he attempted to reach the island.
The incident has sparked renewed discussions about the protection of isolated tribes and the need for stringent enforcement of laws designed to preserve their way of life.
Indian police arrested him on March 31 upon his return to Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, over 800 miles off India's mainland. Authorities highlighted the legal ramifications of his actions, as outside interaction with the Sentinelese is strictly forbidden under Indian law. Previous encounters with the tribe have proven fatal, including the case of American missionary John Allen Chau, who was killed in 2018 when he attempted to reach the island.
The incident has sparked renewed discussions about the protection of isolated tribes and the need for stringent enforcement of laws designed to preserve their way of life.
