In the remote waters of the Bay of Bengal sits North Sentinel Island—home to the Sentinelese, a tribe that has resisted all contact with the outside world for thousands of years. Despite strict protection laws and deadly warnings, explorers, missionaries, and thrill-seekers have repeatedly attempted to reach the island, often with deadly consequences. This episode of Coast Files examines colonial invasion, the devastating impact outsiders can bring, and the haunting story of a man who believed it was his destiny to step ashore—no matter the cost.
References:
Amanda McBaine, & Moss, J. (Directors). (2023). The Mission [Disney+]. Picturehouse.
Harvey, L. (2025, April). US tourist arrested after allegedly attempting to contact ‘world’s most isolated’ tribe. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/04/travel/north-sentinel-island-us-tourist-arrested-intl-hnk
Pereira, A. (n.d.). Why Is it Illegal to Visit North Sentinel Island in India? Brittanica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Why-Is-It-Illegal-to-Visit-North-Sentinel-Island-in-India
Wikipedia contributors. (2026a, January 15). Maurice Vidal Portman. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Vidal_Portman
Wikipedia contributors. (2026c, February 3). Sentinelese. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinelese#/media/File:Sentinelese_people_on_the_beach_of_North_Sentinel_Island.png
CNN. (2025, April 4). North Sentinel Island: US tourist arrested after allegedly attempting to contact ‘world’s most isolated’ tribe. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/04/travel/north-sentinel-island-us-tourist-arrested-intl-hnk
Shamsian, J. (2018, November 28). The Sentinelese have been contacted by the outside world at least 11 times before – Here’s what happened each time. IFLScience. Retrieved from https://www.iflscience.com/the-sentinelese-have-been-contacted-by-the-outside-world-at-least-11-times-before-heres-what-happened-each-time-50762
BBC News. (2018, November 27). The man who spent decades befriending isolated Sentinelese tribe. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-46350130
BBC article on historical/anthropological contactsBBC News. (n.d.). [Article on Sentinelese contacts/history]. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4zl225g8o
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