In the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal lies North Sentinel Island — a remote speck of land fiercely guarded by its indigenous inhabitants, the Sentinelese. The uncontacted tribe, with a population estimated to be between 50 and 200, has consistently shunned external contact and often responds with lethal force to intruders. To safeguard their isolation and protect them from contracting potential diseases to which they have no immunity, the Indian government has imposed strict prohibitions on approaching the island. The island has been declared an exclusion zone enforced by Indian Navy patrols. Entry is illegal, and contact with the tribe is forbidden. Violating these restrictions can have deadly consequences, as the Sentinelese are legally permitted to use deadly force to defend their territory. Over the years, a number of outsiders — from hapless fishermen to a determined Christian missionary — have managed to gain access to the island, only to meet a grisly end. Last week, an American tourist was arrested for traveling to the island and leaving behind a can of Coke as an “offering” for the world’s most isolated tribe to try. Not only did the tourist put himself in danger, but also put the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk of being wiped out if they were to contract a common disease, such as the measles or the flu. The 24-year-old was seized by police when he returned to land. In 1974, a National Geographic film crew's expedition to the island produced a dramatic set of photographs of Sentinelese shooting arrows at the team, one of which became lodged in the director's thigh as they retreated. Despite these well-documented dangers, some individuals still attempt to breach the island's isolation.
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| Missionary John Allen Chau, 26, was killed in a hail of arrows as he went ashore on North Sentinel Island in 2018 |
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| Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, was arrested after leaving behind a can of Coke on the island |
