Tourist arrested for illegally visiting 'world's most isolated tribe' and leaving can of Coke has been pictured
An American tourist who allegedly tried to visit the world's most isolated tribe while leaving them a can of Coke as an 'offering' has been pictured following his arrest.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, was apprehended by authorities in India after his rogue trip to North Sentinel Island, which people are strictly forbidden from even approaching, let alone visiting.
It was declared a tribal reserve in 1956, with the country's government prohibiting all travel within three nautical miles of the place.
Police said Polyakov broke these cardinal rules and actually set foot on the restricted territory, while supposedly trying to make contact with the Sentinelese people who call it home.
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He arrived in the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, on 27 March and was arrested three days later after he reportedly took a boat out to the notorious island.
Andaman and Nicobar director general of police, HS Dhaliwal, said that locals spotted Polyakov close to the the Jarwa Reserve Forest, which is a protected area for the Jarwa tribe.
He was allegedly seen travelling on an inflatable single-seater boat at around 4am on 29 March, before loitering off the shore of North Sentinel Island for about an hour.
Polyakov is accused of then continuously blowing a whistle in the hopes of drawing attention, before eventually setting foot on the sands which are untouched by outsiders.
He is said to have used a GPS to find his way there, according to cops, while he also allegedly got a motor fitted on his inflatable boat at a local workshop.
According to police chief Dhaliwal, the tourist 'landed briefly for about five minutes' and 'left offerings' for the tribe - which reportedly consisted of a can of Coke and a coconut.
"He collected sand samples, and recorded a video before returning to his boat," Dhaliwal said. "A review of his GoPro camera footage showed his entry and landing into the restricted North Sentinel Island."
It is claimed that this was in fact the American's third visit to the islands in recent months - as Polyakov is said to have used an inflatable kayak to try and make the journey in October last year.
According to The Guardian, hotel staff intercepted him while he was still en route on this occasion, while he made another unsuccessful attempt to reach North Sentinel Island in January this year.
He is alleged to have used an inflatable boat fitted with a motor for his second attempt at the 22-mile journey across the water.
It is pretty bizarre that anyone would want to take there chances by trying to visit the restricted island - not only due to the potential legal consequences, but because of how the Sentinelese might react.
The ‘uncontacted’ groups who live there are considered to be a particularly vulnerable, while they are often described as being hostile to outsiders.
This area is also home to the isolated communities of Jarwa, Onge, Shompens and Great Andamanese - but this is believed to only amass to about 150 people.
Indigenous rights group 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 intruders.
The director of the organisation, Caroline Pearce, slammed Polyakov's alleged actions as 'deeply disturbing', as well as 'reckless and idiotic'.
She said in a 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.
"It’s good news that the man in this latest incident has been arrested, but deeply disturbing that he was reportedly able to get onto the island in the first place."
Polyakov has been charged with entering a prohibited zone.
Topics: Travel, Crime, World News
Olivia Burke