Tourist illegally sails to 'world's most isolated tribe' that 'could have killed him' to leave them a gift

In the Bay of Bengal, among India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, North Sentinel Island homes some of the ‘world’s most isolated tribes’.

The somewhat ‘uncontacted’ groups are considered to be a particularly vulnerable group and are often described as being hostile to outsiders.

This area is also home to the isolated communities of Jarwa, Onge, Shompens and Great Andamanese.

Survival International once shared a video of the Sentinelese tribe shooting arrows at those attempting to approach and it’s reported they’ve previously killed.

So, it’s pretty understandable that the indigenous people there are protected by law, with it illegal to travel over to the island.

And yet, one tourist allegedly decided to break this and sail over to leave them a ‘can of Coke’. The American was arrested for allegedly visiting without authorisation.

Police said yesterday (3 April) that Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov has been detained.

He arrived in the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, on 27 March and was arrested three days later after it was reported he’d taken a boat out to the restricted area.

Andaman and Nicobar director general of police HS Dhaliwal said officials were alerted after locals spotted him close to the Jarwa Reserve Forest, a protected area for the Jarwa tribe.

Polyakov was seen on an inflatable single-seater boat at around 4am on 29 March and it’s reported he arrived at the forbidden shores, spending about an hour blowing a whistle in hopes of drawing attention.

North Sentinel Island. (Satellite image (c) 2024 Maxar Technologies/ Getty Images)

The Press Trust of India say police report that the man landed on the island for roughly five minutes, collecting sand samples and recording footage on his GoPro.

Then, before leaving, it’s said he left behind a can of fizzy drink (said to be a Coke) and a coconut as ‘offerings’ for the indigenous people.

"We are getting more details about him and his intention to visit the reserved tribal area. We are also trying to find out where else he has visited during his stay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We are questioning the hotel staff where he was staying in Port Blair," Hs Dhaliwal said.

The tribes have lived in isolation for tens of thousands of years. (Indian Coast Guard)

Under the Foreigners Act, 1946, a formal complaint has been registered against the American and for entering a tribal reserve or restricted area without permission.

It is said this was Polyakov’s third trip to the islands after making two visits last year.

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, prohibits the unauthorised entry to the tribal lands and police say the Home Ministry has been informed about the detention with the US embassy contacted.