Why has the Indian Government banned tourists and explorers from visiting the North Sentinel Island?

North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands, an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal which also includes South Sentinel Island. It is home to the Sentinelese, a people who have rejected, often violently, any contact with the outside world. They are among the last uncontacted peoples to remain virtually untouched by modern civilization.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act of 1956 prohibits travel to the island and any approach closer than five nautical miles (9.26 km) in order to prevent the resident tribespeople from contracting diseases to which they have no immunity. The area is patrolled by the Indian navy.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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47 Comments

Ray Lister

Didn’t an American missionary land there recently and was killed by the locals?

Chrissy Krainock Luders

Tourism is frowned upon at the “forbidden” island - Ni’ihau in Hawaii as well. The approximately 300 remaining pure Hawaiians who live there wish it to remain as it is.

Rita Dee

and they should be left alone, good on the Indian government.

Katherine Casey

Ray Lister, you're right. He was warned by many, many people and he knew it was illiegal to go ashore, but his missionary zealotry trumped any common sense or respect for other cultures. He was killed immediately. I hope his rotting body doesn't harm the native population.

Tigerboy Fleetwood Linford

How interesting. Glad they have protection

Armadillo

Chrissy Krainock Luders, sometimes things have to change for the betterment of all involved.

christyuhhuh

Serves him right then that's almost premeditated and to add insult to injury he was going to try to recruit and change a cultures belief structure howarrogant is that?

Albert

There is no space between the answer - To protect tribespeople from contracting diseases Maybe it would be better if written like this - To protect tribes people from contracting diseases

Donna Smith

Missed it

mamaduck50

Good leave them alone. Everything the white man touches he destroys

Don Racette

Cheryl McMeekin So did I and neither of us copied the others answers.

Cheryl McMeekin

Got it

Boyd Tracy

It made the most sense

dlh

Answered correctly 👏

Kurt Sokolik

Ray Lister, yes, he was trying to convert them to Christianity and he was speared and killed

Terri L Hargrove-Taylor

Christine Gardner, really? People need to leave them alone! Violent my eye. I wish my people were violent towards the colonizers who ruined them and their families.

Terri L Hargrove-Taylor

Alicia Szot, violent? You mean you wouldn't protect you and yours from invasion? They're no more violent than we are. People need to leave well enough alone. They're managing just fine without outside intervention. Look at what colonization has done to the rest of the world! Smh...