The Lost Tribe: North Sentinel Island

North Sentinel Island: The Last Uncontacted Tribe

North Sentinel Island is a tiny island located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands chain in the Bay of Bengal. It is home to one of the last uncontacted tribes in the world, known as the Sentinelese. The island is off-limits to outsiders, and the Sentinelese people have fiercely protected their isolation for centuries. Here's everything you need to know about North Sentinel Island and its inhabitants.

Geography and Location

North Sentinel Island is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are located in the Bay of Bengal. It is located about 50 kilometers west of the southern tip of South Andaman Island. The island is small, covering an area of just 23 square miles. It is covered in dense forest and surrounded by coral reefs, making it difficult to approach by sea.

The Sentinelese People

The Sentinelese people are one of the last uncontacted tribes in the world. They have lived on North Sentinel Island for an estimated 60,000 years and have developed their own language, culture, and way of life. The Sentinelese are believed to be hunter-gatherers, relying on fishing and hunting for their survival. They have no known agriculture, and their tools and weapons are made from materials found on the island.

Attempts at Contact

Despite multiple attempts by outsiders to make contact with the Sentinelese, they have remained isolated and fiercely protected their way of life. The first recorded attempt at contact was made by the British in 1880, but it ended in a violent confrontation. Since then, there have been several other attempts, including in 1974 when a National Geographic film crew visited the island and left gifts for the tribe. In 2018, an American missionary named John Allen Chau was killed by the Sentinelese when he attempted to make contact.

Protection and Preservation

The Indian government has declared North Sentinel Island and the surrounding waters a protected area, and all visits to the island are strictly prohibited. The Sentinelese people are believed to be extremely vulnerable to outside diseases and infections, and any contact could have disastrous consequences for the tribe. The Indian government has taken steps to protect and preserve the Sentinelese people, ensuring that they are left alone to continue their way of life.

North Sentinel Island and the Sentinelese people are a unique and fascinating part of the world's cultural and biological diversity. Their isolation has allowed them to develop their own language, culture, and way of life, and their continued protection and preservation are essential for their survival. The island serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting and preserving the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their cultural differences.