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North Sentinel Island is located in the Bay of Bengal, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. It is a small, remote island that is home to the Sentinelese people, one of the world’s last uncontacted tribes. The island is known for its isolation and its inhabitants’ resistance to contact with the outside world. Access to the island is restricted by the Indian government to protect the Sentinelese and preserve their way of life.
In today’s highly connected world, the Internet allows people from different parts of the globe to communicate, and businesses can be conducted across continents. It may seem impossible for anyone to live in complete isolation in such a world.
However, that is not the case! Today, we are going to learn about a group of people who have no contact with the outside world. They live alone on their own island, and they have been doing so for over 55,000 years! Who are these people? They are the inhabitants of North Sentinel Island!
So, where exactly is North Sentinel Island located? It is part of the Andaman Islands, which are situated in the Bay of Bengal. Among the islands, North Sentinel Island is one of the smaller ones, covering an area of approximately 23 square miles (60 square kilometers). It is also surrounded by a shallow reef.
North Sentinel Island is quite remote, which makes it surprising that a whole community of people call it their home. Known as the Sentinelese, this tribe remains largely unknown to outsiders. In fact, we do not even know what they call themselves!
The Sentinelese are an isolated tribe, meaning they do not have any contact with the outside world. Over the years, a few attempts have been made to establish communication with them. Some people even stumbled upon an abandoned Sentinelese village. However, the tribe has consistently rejected any contact with outsiders.
North Sentinel Island is under the jurisdiction of India. According to India’s census efforts, there are between 80 and 150 people living on the island. They communicate using a language that is completely unfamiliar to others. They have been isolated for so long that even nearby indigenous groups are unable to understand their language.
The Sentinelese are hunter-gatherers, relying on the plants and animals found on the island and in the surrounding waters for their food. This likely includes fish, fruits, eggs from seagulls and turtles, and small animals. The tribe also creates their own weapons using materials available on the island, such as bows and arrows, daggers, and spears.
The Sentinelese live in huts that can accommodate multiple families. They take great care of their fires, as they have not discovered how to make fire themselves. Instead, experts believe that they wait for lightning to strike, which provides them with the fire they need. Additionally, they are skilled in building canoes and weaving baskets.
In 1967, the Indian government attempted to establish contact with the Sentinelese. An anthropologist named Triloknath Pandit was sent, accompanied by a group of police and naval officers. They managed to locate the Sentinelese, who clearly showed no interest in establishing contact.
Nevertheless, Pandit and his group made several return visits. They left gifts as a gesture of goodwill towards the Sentinelese. Over time, the tribe started accepting these gifts, showing particular interest in the coconuts brought by Pandit and his group. By 1991, the Sentinelese had become less hostile towards the visitors, even approaching them unarmed to receive the gifts.
However, the Sentinelese always maintained a safe distance from Pandit and the others, never reciprocating with their own gifts or inviting the group to their village. In 1996, the Indian government decided to end the visits. Nevertheless, there have been other instances of contact between outsiders and the Sentinelese.
Throughout history, numerous shipwrecks have washed up on the shores of North Sentinel Island. In most cases, the indigenous tribe responded with hostility towards the passengers. Following the 2004 tsunami, the Indian government dispatched helicopters to ensure the safety of the island’s inhabitants. However, the tribe was unharmed and, instead, shot arrows at the helicopters.
To safeguard both the Sentinelese and outsiders, the Indian government has implemented laws prohibiting visits to North Sentinel Island. In 2018, an American man named John Allen Chau illegally visited the island with the intention of evangelizing as a Christian missionary. Unfortunately, he too was met with hostility and was killed by the tribe at the age of 26.
No further attempts have been made to make contact with the Sentinelese. However, they are not the only tribe to reject contact with the outside world. It is estimated that there are up to 100 uncontacted tribes globally. Many of these tribes and their territories are protected by legal measures.
Why are uncontacted tribes protected? There are several reasons for this. First and foremost, contact with outsiders can pose great danger to isolated tribes who may lack immunity to common illnesses like the cold and flu. Outsiders can introduce diseases that could potentially wipe out the entire population of a tribe.
Furthermore, uncontacted tribes often live in harmony with nature and are viewed as guardians of the natural world. By protecting their territories, natural resources such as forests and bodies of water are also safeguarded. This preservation effort extends to the tribes’ unique cultures and customs, which contribute to the rich diversity of global human life.
Ready to delve further into the topic? Enlist the help of a friend or family member to assist you with the following activities.
- In today’s Wonder, it was mentioned that the Sentinelese are a tribe that survives by hunting and gathering. Explore this article to discover more about this type of society. What are some fascinating facts about their methods of acquiring food? How about the tools they use in their daily lives? Share something you’ve learned with a friend or family member.
- Imagine that you have the opportunity to converse with a member of the Sentinelese tribe. In this hypothetical scenario, both of you can communicate in the same language and understand each other. What inquiries would you pose to them? What questions do you think they might ask you? Write a brief narrative of this imaginary conversation and share it with a friend or family member. You can even engage in role-playing and have them participate in this fictional conversation with you.
- The Sentinelese are an isolated tribe that maintains no contact with the outside world. There may be around 100 of these isolated tribes still existing on Earth. Do you believe it is beneficial for them to remain uncontacted? Should we share our technology and knowledge with them? Or do you think their way of life should be preserved as an important aspect of human culture? Create a poster or infographic outlining the advantages and disadvantages of leaving these groups uncontacted or attempting to exchange information. You can utilize paper and drawing materials or one of the Wonderopolis templates on Canva. Share your creation with a friend or family member.
Wonder Sources
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2018/11/30/everything-we-know-about-the-isolated-sentinelese-people-of-north-sentinel-island/?sh=646b89f135a0 (accessed 30 Mar 2022)
- https://northsentinelisland.com/ (accessed 30 Mar 2022)
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/first-woman-chattopadhyay-contact-sentinelese-andaman (accessed 30 Mar 2022)
- https://www.atlasandboots.com/north-sentinel-island/ (accessed 30 Mar 2022)
- https://www.survivalinternational.org/uncontactedtribes/who-they-are (accessed 30 Mar 2022)
- https://learnersdictionary.com/ (accessed 30 Mar 2022)
FAQ
1. Where is North Sentinel Island located?
North Sentinel Island is located in the Bay of Bengal, in the Andaman Islands archipelago. It is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory of India.
2. Why is North Sentinel Island famous?
North Sentinel Island is famous for being one of the most isolated and least explored places on Earth. The indigenous tribe living on the island, known as the Sentinelese, have had minimal contact with the outside world and have fiercely resisted any attempts at contact.
3. Can you visit North Sentinel Island?
No, visiting North Sentinel Island is strictly prohibited. The Indian government has imposed a ban on approaching within a certain distance of the island in order to protect the indigenous tribe and preserve their way of life. Violators can face legal consequences and there have been instances of fatal encounters with the Sentinelese.
4. Are there any known settlements or infrastructure on North Sentinel Island?
No, there are no known settlements or infrastructure on North Sentinel Island. The Sentinelese live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and their dwellings consist of huts made from leaves and branches. They have managed to maintain their traditional way of life for thousands of years.
5. Is it safe to approach North Sentinel Island?
No, it is not safe to approach North Sentinel Island. The Sentinelese are known to be extremely hostile towards outsiders and have attacked anyone who has tried to come near the island. The Indian government has set up a three-mile exclusion zone around the island to ensure the safety of both the tribe and outsiders.
6. How many people live on North Sentinel Island?
The exact population of North Sentinel Island is unknown, but it is estimated to be between 50 to 400 individuals. Due to their isolation and lack of contact with the outside world, precise data on their population is challenging to obtain.
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