Death Lurks on North Sentinel Island

An idyllic island in the Indian Ocean, deserted white sandy beaches, a bright green jungle behind them - sounds like something out of a storybook, right? This is North Sentinel Island too - at least at first glance. But should you ever dare to set foot on this beautiful isle, it would mean certain death. North Sentinel - one of the most beautiful yet simultaneously dangerous places in the world.

In today's age of smartphones, computers, and the internet, what lies in the jungle of North Sentinel Island seems unbelievable. At the heart of the island lives a people who have had no contact with civilization to this day. In the secure protection of the dense forest, the Sentinelese have been home for thousands of years and strictly reject any contact with the outside world - going so far as to kill anyone who approaches. How it is still possible in modern times that such a group exists, what is known about the Sentinelese, and how we should deal with the situation, you will learn in this article. Join us on a journey into the undiscovered, the original, and the unknown.

First, I want to give you an overview of the three types of indigenous peoples so you can understand that even in 2017, there are groups of people of which we know little, or even nothing. The term 'indigenous people' refers to 'native' or 'original' population groups.

In the western part of India, next to the Andaman Islands, lies North Sentinel Island, only 60 km² in size and surrounded by a beautiful reef. The Sentinelese living there are considered the oldest population in South Asia, counting among the closest descendants of the first humans from Africa, having lived on the islands off India for nearly 60,000 years. An impressive number when you consider how much our society has changed during this time.

Time and again, people have tried throughout history to make contact with these people. In the 19th century, an elderly couple with four children was taken from the island to gradually 'civilize' the tribe. However, the elderly people died immediately as they were not immune to the diseases of that time. The children of the Sentinelese were then returned to the island. What a cruel way to make contact with the island's inhabitants.

In 1974, as part of a documentary ('Man in Search of Man'), an attempt was made to approach the island by boat and to appease the people with gifts, such as coconuts. These images are among the few recordings that show the people of North Sentinel Island.

At the end of the 20th century, a ship ran aground there - due to high waves, the Sentinelese could not reach the crew - which likely saved their lives. The shipwrecked were gradually rescued by helicopter. Over time, life on North Sentinel Island has inevitably changed as a result. The people have been able to create tools from metal and other materials they collected from the wrecks or that were washed ashore by our society.

To this day, we know almost nothing about this mysterious people. Based on 'census' estimates, there are about 40 to 500 people living on the island - so we really have no clue. There have also been no signs of fire since then, but that does not mean we can label this society as 'backward' or 'Stone Age people.' Here is a piece of true untouched history that we should preserve as the Sentinelese wish. A 'census' means, by the way, throwing coconuts on the beach, waiting for someone to come, taking a photo, and then counting the people.

India has repeatedly tried to appease the people with gifts so that they would then establish a palm plantation on the island and turn the Sentinelese into farmers - this attempt has failed. North Sentinel Island and the waters around it have now been declared a military exclusion zone.

India has also issued an official ban on contact to protect the island's inhabitants. They are, after all, still not immune to our diseases - a visit there could therefore be deadly for both sides. To maintain this protection, the Indian police patrol the coast of the island. In 2006, however, two fishermen illegally stayed there; they paid for it with their lives - the Sentinelese punish any visitor with death who approaches their island.

However, in this complete isolation, the people are by no means helpless - they were, for example, the only ones to survive the devastating tsunami of 2004 almost unscathed, as noted when a helicopter flew over the island. This visit was also met with spear attacks and bows and arrows from the tribe. But let's be honest - these tribes simply do not know us and our devices - who would not feel scared by a loud monster in the sky? Those captivated by the mysterious story of the Sentinelese can also read an interview from an anthropological perspective with an ethnologist who once succeeded in entering the island.

That there still exists such primitiveness in the modern era, as we know it, is truly unique and simply incredible. For that reason, this mystery surrounding the Sentinelese should be preserved and left unsolved. We must respect and value this way of life, acknowledging that even in our technological chaos, there are still such fascinating and undiscovered forms of existence. An unimaginable, fascinating story, don't you think?

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