By Daily Mail (World News) | Created at 2025-04-03 10:10:19 | Updated at 2025-04-04 06:03:14
19 hours ago
An American tourist has been arrested for allegedly travelling to a restricted reserve on a remote island and leaving behind a can of Coke as an 'offering' for the world's most isolated tribe to try.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, was arrested in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Monday after he allegedly visited a prohibited tribal reserve on North Sentinel Island without authorization.
Polyakov arrived in Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on March 26 and sailed across a 25-mile straight from Kurma Dera Beach to North Sentinel Island on a makeshift craft three days later.
He arrived at the forbidden island's northeastern shores on Saturday around 10am and, using binoculars, began to survey the area for signs life.
Polyakov spent roughly an hour blowing a whistle from his inflatable boat in hopes of drawing attention to himself, but received no response.
He then landed on the island for roughly five minutes, collected sand samples, recorded a video on his GoPro, and left behind a can of soda and a coconut as 'offerings for the Sentinelese' tribe, police told The Press Trust of India.
Local fishermen reported his activities to police later that evening after Polyakov returned to Kurma Dera Beach. He was arrested and remains in custody for further questioning.
The Sentinelese tribe, which inhabits North Sentinel Island, are considered a particularly vulnerable group. They are reportedly hostile towards outsiders and have in the past killed people who approached or landed on the island.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, was arrested in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands after he allegedly visited a prohibited tribal reserve on North Sentinel Island without authorization. He left behind 'offerings for the Sentinelese' tribe (pictured in a file photo)
Polyakov arrived at the shores of North Sentinel Island (pictured in file photo) around 10am on March 29 and - using binoculars - began surveying the area for signs life. He spent roughly an hour blowing a whistle from his inflatable boat in hopes of drawing attention to himself, but received no response
Polyakov departed Kurma Dera Beach around 1am on March 29 and, using GPS navigation, arrived at North Sentinel Island around 10am.
Police say his journey to the prohibited territory was meticulously planned, alleging that the tourist had studied sea conditions, tides and access points before making the journey.
He returned to the beach around 7pm that same day where police seized his boat, an outboard motor and a GoPro containing video of his landing on the restricted island.
'We are getting more details about him and his intention to visit the reserved tribal area,' Andaman and Nicobar Islands' Director General of Police told the newspaper.
Investigators are also trying to identify where else Polyakov visited during his stay in the region and are 'questioning the hotel staff where he was staying in Port Blair'.
As of Wednesday, he remained in custody for further interrogation. The US Embassy, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Department have been notified of his arrest.
Polyakov previously visited Port Blair in October last year with plans to sail to North Sentinel Island using an inflatable kayak, but was stopped by hotel staff.
He returned to the region again in January this year and tried to obtain a motor for his boat. According to police, he visited the Baratang Islands during that visit and allegedly illegally recorded video of the Jarawa tribe.
MailOnline has approached police and the US Embassy in India for comment.
Polyakov landed on the island for roughly five minutes, collected sand samples, recorded a video on his GoPro, and left behind a can of soda and a coconut as 'offerings for the Sentinelese' tribe (pictured in a file photo above)
Indian authorities prohibit visits to North Sentinel Island in an effort to protect the Sentinelese tribe from outside threats.
Experts, branding Polyakov's attempted visit as deeply disturbing', note that it is 'very well known' that 'uncontacted peoples' do not have immunity to common diseases, such as influenza or measles, and could be 'completely wiped out' by such illnesses.
'It beggars belief that someone could be that reckless and idiotic,' Caroline Pearce, the director of indigenous rights group Survival International, told The Telegraph of Polyakov's attempt.
'This person's actions not only endangered his own life, they put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk.
The Sentinelese, who are considered to be the world's last pre-Neolithic tribe, also have a history of hostility towards outsiders.
American missionary John Chau, 26, was killed on the island in November 2018 after he allegedly attempted to make contact the Sentinelse and and convert them to Christianity. His body remains on the island.
