American YouTuber could face jail time for trying to contact world's most isolated tribe

Express Tribune

07-04-2025

Another U.S. social media influencer has stirred controversy abroad — this time by endangering the survival of one of the world's most isolated indigenous communities.
In March, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a 24-year-old YouTuber who posts under the name Neo-Orientalist, illegally attempted to interact with the Sentinelese people, according to a statement from Survival International, an organization that defends the rights of indigenous and tribal communities.
The Sentinelese inhabit North Sentinel Island, a densely forested, Manhattan-sized island in the Indian Ocean, and have fiercely resisted any contact with outsiders for generations.
Polyakov reportedly approached the restricted island by boat, landed briefly, and spent around five minutes onshore.
During his short but reckless stay, he left behind a coconut and a can of Diet Coke, blew a whistle in an attempt to get the tribe's attention, gathered sand samples, and filmed the entire encounter, according to Indian authorities.
Fortunately, he did not come into direct contact with any members of the tribe. Indian officials swiftly arrested Polyakov, placing him on a three-day remand for further investigation, and he now faces potential jail time.
Access to North Sentinel Island is strictly forbidden under Indian law, primarily to protect the Sentinelese from modern diseases to which they have no immunity.
Survival International condemned Polyakov's actions as "reckless and idiotic," emphasizing that even brief contact could have catastrophic consequences for the tribe, potentially wiping out their entire population through the introduction of viruses like the flu.
Historically, attempts to reach the Sentinelese have ended badly. In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, efforts by outsiders to establish contact frequently resulted in violence — and sometimes death — prompting the Indian government to halt any further outreach.
Past interactions, like a British-led expedition in the 19th century that kidnapped two elders and four children, had tragic outcomes: the elders died and the children, likely carriers of foreign diseases, were returned with gifts, potentially introducing illness to the isolated community.
The dangers of such contact are well documented. Nearby indigenous groups like the Onge saw their population plummet by 85% following forced interaction with outsiders, while the Great Andamanese people experienced a devastating 99% decline.
The tragic death of American missionary John Allen Chau in 2018, after he illegally attempted to evangelize the Sentinelese, serves as a grim reminder of the risks involved — not only to the outsiders but, more importantly, to the tribe itself.
The Sentinelese live by hunting, gathering, and fishing, navigating the surrounding waters in small outrigger-like boats.
They craft bows, arrows, and spears and reside in communal huts or smaller temporary shelters.
Observations from afar, outside of archery range, have revealed a healthy presence of children and pregnant women, suggesting a stable population, estimated at around 150 individuals. However, very little is truly known about their culture, language, or even what they call themselves.
Survival International stresses that the Sentinelese have made it abundantly clear: they want no contact with the outside world.
Respecting their choice is crucial for their survival. As the organization states, "It is a wise choice."