7 fascinating facts about Andaman and Nicobar islands

1. The Japanese occupied the islands of Andaman and Nicobar briefly

 

Not many are aware, but the Japanese did have a hold over these islands for three years. “The events that took place in the three years of the occupation are  not easy to find, as the Japanese destroyed all records when they  retired. The main sources are the testimonies collected by unpublished report from a local resident called Rama Krishna: The Andaman Islands  under Japanese occupation 1942-5, another unpublished report of a British officer,  D. McCarthy: The Andaman interval (McCarthy was sent on a secret  mission to the islands in 1944), along with the memories of other  elderly residents interviewed by historians. All these, and published works based on them, agree that, during the occupation, the Japanese  committed numerous atrocities against the local population.”  This is an account from the Japanese Occupation of the Andaman Islands, that a Quora user Surya Sankar posted.

 

2.  Remotest Place on Earth: North Sentinel Island  
A tribe called Jarwa lives on the remotest place on earth called the North Sentinel Island located to the north of Andaman and Nicobar. These tribes are not only super inclusive, but also super aggressive, and have no intentions on mingling with ‘outsiders’. According to reports, when a Nat Geo film crew went to film them, the director was speared in his thigh.  The Indian government declared this island to be an exclusion zone and as per the 2011 census, there were 15 natives on the island shore.  

 

 

3.  Rajan, the ocean-loving elephant  
 

This gentle giant has been the mascot for Andaman’s travel and tourism.  He died recently at the age of 66.  According to Huffington Post, “The talented tusker swam to fame in the 2006 Hollywood movie The Fall and was later adopted by the Barefoot Resort on Havelock Island where he lived until his death.” “From 2007 to 2014, under the resort’s care, Rajan enthralled filmmakers and photographers from around the world as he propelled his 12-thousand-pound bulk through the ocean with surprisingly graceful gliding strokes.”


 

4. There is an active volcano present in Andamans on an island called the Barren Island
 

 

5.  Trio Service Command
Only in India, and at the Andaman and Nicobar islands, lies a tri-command service with commanders-in-chief from the Army, Navy and Air Force who take turns at the helm. All of them report directly to the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

 

 

6. Access to Nicobar is very rare  
Think you can get access to Nicobar – whether you’re a local or foreigner – think again. Permits are issued and stringently for research and survey purposes. There’s several reason for this: it falls under reserved tribal land, UNESCO declared Nicobar as a World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

 

 

7. B for butterflies

 

When you think of the Andamans,  butterflies are the last thing that comes to your mind, but in fact are home to some spectacular looking butterflies.