Influencers 'new' threat to uncontacted tribes, warns group after US tourist arrest

The Sentinelese are a unique group of people who live on North Sentinel Island, located in the Indian Ocean. They are known for being one of the most isolated tribes in the world, having little to no contact with outsiders. Recently, a 24-year-old American man named Mykhailo Polyakov made headlines after he attempted to visit this restricted island. He reportedly landed on the island with the intention of making contact with the Sentinelese tribe, filming his experience and leaving behind a can of coke and a coconut as offerings. This act has raised significant concerns among various organizations, particularly Survival International, a charity dedicated to protecting the rights of indigenous peoples. They described Polyakov's actions as 'deeply disturbing,' emphasizing that such attempts not only endanger the lives of the tribe but also pose serious risks to the individual involved. The U. S. government has acknowledged the situation and is currently monitoring developments. According to HGS Dhaliwal, the police chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Polyakov was brought before a local court and is being held for three days for further questioning. Reports indicate that he spent about an hour trying to attract the attention of the tribe by blowing a whistle before he briefly landed on the island. During his short visit, he left his gifts, collected samples, and recorded video footage. The police chief confirmed that they reviewed the footage from his GoPro camera, which showed his entry into the restricted area of North Sentinel Island. It is illegal for anyone, including both foreigners and Indians, to approach within 5 kilometers of the island to protect the Sentinelese people from outside influences and diseases. The police also revealed that Polyakov had previously visited the region, attempting to reach the island in an inflatable kayak last October, but was stopped by hotel staff. Upon his arrest, he reportedly told authorities that he was a 'thrill seeker. ' Survival International has long warned that such visits can be harmful to the Sentinelese, who lack immunity to many common diseases. Jonathan Mazower, a spokesperson for the organization, expressed concerns that social media is contributing to the growing threats faced by uncontacted tribes. He noted that there are already established dangers, such as logging and mining in areas where many uncontacted peoples reside, but now there is an increasing trend of influencers seeking to visit these tribes for social media followers. Mazower stated, 'There’s a growing social media fascination with this whole idea. ' The Sentinelese are described as the most isolated Indigenous people in the world, living on an island roughly the size of Manhattan. Mazower estimated that the tribe consists of around 200 individuals, although it is difficult to determine the exact number. Very little is known about their way of life, but they are believed to be a hunter-gatherer community that lives in small settlements and is considered to be 'extremely healthy. ' He emphasized that this incident underscores the importance of government protections for communities like the Sentinelese. The United Nations has established obligations for governments to safeguard the rights of affected peoples. While the Indian government has made efforts to protect the Sentinelese, it has faced criticism for not doing enough. This is not the first instance of an outsider attempting to contact the tribe. In November 2018, a man named John Chau, who was a Christian missionary, was killed by the tribe when he landed on the island. Reports indicated that he had bribed fishermen to take him there, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with such reckless behavior.