North Sentinel Island

Source: IT

Context: A 24-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested for illegally entering the restricted tribal zone of North Sentinel Island, a protected territory in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

About North Sentinel Island:

• Location:

• Located in the Bay of Bengal, part of the South Andaman administrative district Lies about 50 km west of Port Blair, covering an area of ~60 sq. km

• Located in the Bay of Bengal, part of the South Andaman administrative district

• Lies about 50 km west of Port Blair, covering an area of ~60 sq. km

• Key Geographic Features:

• Surrounded by coral reefs and lacks natural harbours. Enclosed by white-sand beaches, mangroves, and dense tropical forests Uplifted by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, expanding land mass due to exposed reefs

• Surrounded by coral reefs and lacks natural harbours.

• Enclosed by white-sand beaches, mangroves, and dense tropical forests

• Uplifted by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, expanding land mass due to exposed reefs

• Flora and Fauna:

• Vegetation: Dense forests with species like Malabar silk cotton and bulletwood trees. Wildlife: Includes Indian wild boar, coconut crabs, sea turtles, sharks, and diverse birdlife.

• Vegetation: Dense forests with species like Malabar silk cotton and bulletwood trees.

• Wildlife: Includes Indian wild boar, coconut crabs, sea turtles, sharks, and diverse birdlife.

• Indigenous Inhabitants – The Sentinelese:

• Known for hostility towards outsiders, they reject any contact with the outside world Likely to be descendants of the first human migrations out of Africa Dependent on hunting, fishing, and gathering; use bows, arrows, and spears Culture, language, and population estimates remain unknown and unstudied

• Known for hostility towards outsiders, they reject any contact with the outside world

• Likely to be descendants of the first human migrations out of Africa

• Dependent on hunting, fishing, and gathering; use bows, arrows, and spears

• Culture, language, and population estimates remain unknown and unstudied

• Historical Encounters:

• Maurice Vidal Portman’s expeditions forcibly brought natives to Port Blair, resulting in deaths due to lack of immunity

• Governance of Island: Andaman & Nicobar (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956: Prohibits entrywithin 5 nautical miles (9 km). No prosecutionof Sentinelese for hostile acts (self-defence). Restricted Area Permit (RAP): Removed in 2018, but contact remains banned. Indian Navy patrolsthe island.

• Andaman & Nicobar (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956: Prohibits entrywithin 5 nautical miles (9 km). No prosecutionof Sentinelese for hostile acts (self-defence).

• Prohibits entrywithin 5 nautical miles (9 km).

• No prosecutionof Sentinelese for hostile acts (self-defence).

• Restricted Area Permit (RAP): Removed in 2018, but contact remains banned. Indian Navy patrolsthe island.

• Indian Navy patrolsthe island.