US citizens arrested in India: risk to the Sentinelese island!

US citizens arrested in India: risk to the Sentinelese island!

North Sentinel, Indien - A US citizen was arrested on the North Sentinel Islands, which are inhabited by the indigenous group of Sentinelese. Viktor Polyakov, a 24-year-old man from Arizona, is accused of having reached the island without permission. This island is known for the fact that its residents have no contact with the outside world. Polyakov apparently had the plan to get in touch with the Sentinelese, but this is associated with the risk of endangering the safety of this isolated community. The Indian authorities arrested him after Fischer observed his return and informed the police. According to information from Kleine Zeitung on Monday had reached the island on Monday and tried to draw attention to itself with a pipe.

During his short stay on the island, he took off a coconut and a can of cola as a "gift" and recorded a video without contacting the islanders. The situation raises serious questions about the dangers that uncontacted peoples can experience through unauthorized contact attempts, especially with regard to diseases against which they have no immunity. "Survival International" has sharply criticized Polyakov's behavior and pointed out that uncontacted peoples are extremely vulnerable because they were often unable to develop defenses against the diseases of civilization.

The dangers for uncontacted peoples

indigenous peoples, especially uncontacted communities, are exposed to major threats worldwide. These range from land robbery to climatic changes that endanger their habitat. In a report by ZDF it is pointed out that about 200 indigenous groups live in isolation today. This condition is further difficult by lumberjacks, cattle breeders, drug smugglers, missionaries and tourists who enter their habitats.

The activist Teresa Mayo of "Survival International" emphasizes that contact with civilization is the greatest danger to uncontacted peoples. In the past, a policy of controlled contact was pursued in Brazil, but this had negative health consequences for the affected communities. Nowadays the "policy of the non-contact" applies, which says that isolated peoples only look for contact if they do not see any other option.

The Sentinelese and other uncontacted groups live in relatively isolated areas that are often threatened by deforestation. Your valuable knowledge of biological diversity and medicinal plants could be lost if your habitat should be attacked further. It is crucial to protect these communities and their way of life to preserve their cultural identity and the biological diversity of their homeland.