The Last Of the Bo Trivia Quiz

Answer: India

The Andaman Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal. They were first occupied by Britain in 1789 and later acted as a prison to hold Indian activists. Though briefly occupied by the Japanese during World War II, the Andaman Islands returned to British control shortly before India was declared independent in 1947.

Answer: 65,000 years old

The actual date of when Homo sapiens first appeared in evolutionary history has been the centre of much debate for a long time, though many scientists now concur that this happened around 200,000 years ago. Humans are believed to have migrated from Africa around 75,000 years ago and, curiously, were able to colonize the Andaman Islands shortly after - around 65,000 years ago.

This was found to be the case after analyzing the mitochondrial DNA of tribal inhabitants of the islands and comparing them with the early African migrants.

Answer: 10

Great Andamanese is one of two families of languages which make up what are known as the Andaman languages (the other being Ongan). Great Andamanese was recognised to be made up by ten tribal languages, nine of which had become extinct by 2010.

Answer: Alcohol abuse

Of the four recognised tribes on the Andaman Islands, the Great Andamanese were the first to come into contact with non-tribal settlers (over 150 years ago). The Great Andamanese lived in the northern jungles, but were relocated in 1970.

Alcoholism continues to be a detrimental factor in the lives of the tribespeople.

Answer: By communicating with Boa using a mixture of Great Andamese and Hindi

Professor Abbi was able to communicate with Boa using a mixture of languages and told the world of how she dealt with the 2004 tsunami. Boa told Abbi that she was instructed not to run from the tsunami by the elder and that she would be safe.

Answer: The Jangil

The Shompen, the Jarawa and the Onge, along with Sentinelise (not mentioned above), join the Great Andamanese as the ancient tribes found on the Andaman Islands.

The Jangil were thought to be closely related to the Jawara tribe and, because they lived on Rutland Island, were sometimes referred to as the Rutland Jawara. The tribe was believed to have died out in the 1920s.

Answer: Refusal of contact with the outside world

Of all the ancient tribes found on Andaman Islands, the Sentinelese are the greatest in number, though their population is still worryingly low, at 250. As of 2010, the Sentinelese were the only Andamanese tribe which banned contact with outsiders. This hostility was famously captured by cameras mounted on a helicopter which intended to film the 2004 tsunami.

Here, the Sentinelese were seen firing arrows at this mysterious flying machine.

Answer: Port Blair

Conflict with British settlers had left the Bo (and other Great Andamanese tribes) weakened, with greatly reduced numbers and less living space. Those deemed as trouble-makers by the British were kept in an Andaman Home, but this was even more disastrous for the Great Andamanese population, as none of the 150 babies born in this home survived past the age of two.

These tribes, after having been relocated in 1970, were left totally dependent on handouts from the Indian government.

Answer: Poaching of game on which the tribes depend

The Jarawa, who live in the forests of Middle Andaman, resisted human contact until 1980, but now number only 250 (as of 2010). In the face of disease, poachers, and encroaching motorways, the reduced Jarawa tribe still maintain their traditional way of life, hunting in the Andaman forests.

Answer: Boa spent her dying days in the home in which she was born

Boa was born in the jungle, but she lived out her last few years in a concrete hut on a tiny state pension. Her conversations with Professor Abbi provided a fascinating viewpoint on world events.