- Indian authorities detained an American man for illegally entering a protected island inhabited by the isolated Sentinelese tribe. Officials say he made repeated attempts to reach the area and left offerings to initiate contact.
- Police say Mykhailo Polyakov planned the trip over several months and previously tried to approach the island and film another protected group.
- He faces possible prison time for violating tribal protection laws and has drawn global attention to the dangers of outsider interference with uncontacted Indigenous communities.
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Authorities in India arrested a 24-year-old American tourist, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, after he illegally entered North Sentinel Island — a restricted area home to the isolated Sentinelese tribe. Indian police say he made the journey in a modified inflatable boat, leaving behind offerings of a coconut and a can of cola in an attempt to make contact.
Polyakov was taken into custody on Monday, March 31, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Officials say he planned the trip months in advance and previously visited the region at least twice.
What makes North Sentinel Island so protected?
North Sentinel Island is one of the most protected and restricted zones in the world. It is home to the Sentinelese, a hunter-gatherer tribe that has lived in voluntary isolation for thousands of years. The tribe’s population is estimated to be between 50 and 100 people.
Indian law forbids any contact with the tribe to prevent the spread of modern diseases, to which the Sentinelese have no immunity.
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The tribe is known to reject outsiders, often responding with hostility to those who get too close. In 2018, American missionary John Allen Chau was killed after trying to approach the island. The incident led to global debate over ethics, sovereignty and the safety of both visitors and isolated communities.
Was this Polyakov’s first attempt?
Indian officials say Polyakov’s recent arrest was not an isolated stunt but part of a pattern. He previously attempted to get near the island in late 2024 but was stopped by hotel staff. During a separate visit in January 2025, he allegedly tried to film the Jarawa, another protected Indigenous group in the region.
Authorities described his efforts as highly premeditated. He reportedly studied sea conditions, used GPS to guide his approach and brought a whistle to try to get the tribe’s attention. He briefly landed on the island’s shore to leave gifts, collect sand, and record footage on a GoPro camera before returning to his boat. Fishermen spotted him later that day.
What are the legal consequences?
Polyakov is under investigation for violating India’s Foreigners Act and tribal protection regulations. His GoPro and boat were seized. He has not yet been formally charged. The U.S. State Department acknowledged awareness of his detention but has not commented further.
Legal experts say his actions could result in a prison sentence of up to five years. Indian authorities continue to investigate his full movements during his stay and are questioning hotel staff and reviewing evidence gathered from his devices.
What are the broader risks?
Indigenous rights groups say Polyakov’s actions posed significant danger — not just to himself, but to the Sentinelese. The tribe’s isolation makes members especially vulnerable to disease. Even brief contact could lead to deadly consequences for a population with no immunity to modern illnesses.
Survival International, a nonprofit advocating for uncontacted tribes, called the attempt “reckless and idiotic.” The group noted that such incidents underscore a larger pattern of encroachment, especially as governments and individuals test the limits of protections meant to safeguard isolated Indigenous people.
