An influencer has sparked outrage after traveling to a remote island in the Indian Ocean, as part of an attempt to make contact with an indigenous tribe.
Seeking attention through risky travel, 24-year-old Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a self-described ‘danger tourist,’ has previously explored places like Afghanistan. However, his recent expedition to North Sentinel Island has resulted in serious repercussions.
According to AFP (via the BBC), it’s illegal to be within three miles of these islands. Polyakov disregarded these restrictions, documenting his visit on film, collecting samples, and leaving items such as a can of Coke and a watermelon. Reports also indicate he attempted to attract the tribe’s attention by blowing a whistle from the shoreline.
Police chief HGS Dhaliwal told AFP that “a review of [the creator’s] GoPro camera footage showed his entry and landing into the restricted North Sentinel Island.”
Reportedly, the police also found that he had tried to visit the island twice before.
Survival International Responds
In a statement, Survival International’s Director Caroline Pearce described reports of Polyakov’s attempt to contact the tribe as “deeply disturbing.”
“It’s beggars’ belief that someone could be that reckless and idiotic,” Pearce said. “This person’s actions not only endangered his own life, they put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk. It’s very well known by now that uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely wipe them out.”
She then went on to add that “the Sentinelese have made their wish to avoid outsiders incredibly clear over the years,” before reminding readers of how the tribe killed a missionary on the island back in 2018.
She added: ” The Indian authorities have a legal responsibility to ensure that the Sentinelese are safe from missionaries, social media influencers, people fishing illegally in their waters and anyone else who may try to make contact with them.”
