Scottsdale YouTuber Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov was arrested in India on March 31 after an attempt to make a connection with the isolated Sentinelese tribe. A possible charge of up to five years with a fine is likely.

   Polyakov stepped foot on the restricted area of North Sentinel Island in hopes to meet tribe members from the island. GPS led him to the beach where he stayed for around an hour. He kept endeavoring to get their attention, including blowing a whistle, but received no reaction. Then, he left a coconut and a can of diet coke as an offering. Before Polyakov left the island, he collected sand samples and filmed a video. Upon Polyakov leaving, a local fisherman spotted him in his boat and reported him to authorities immediately. 

 Guests are not to travel within 3 miles of this island. The tribe is known to violently protect themselves from outsiders with spears and bow and arrows aimed at nearby intruders. Many Indian ships surround this island in order to secure it; the island has been protected for thousands of years. “This person’s actions not only endangered his own life, they put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk,” said Caroline Pearce, a member of a group that protects indigenous people’s rights. 

Thunderbird students tend to agree with Pearce. Freshman Abbey Burton said, “It is very intrusive to the tribe and dangerous for both of them.”