I’m going to preface this blog post from the beginning, “I despise hunting”. Especially big game hunting, where entitled idiots pay $50,000 to $100,000 to hunt in Africa, etc..The story of Jim Corbett though is an interesting one.
Jim Corbett was a British-Indian hunter, tracker, naturalist, and author who was born in 1875 in India. He is best known for hunting man-eating tigers and leopards in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India. Corbett was not just a hunter but also a conservationist who played a key role in creating a sanctuary for the endangered Bengal tiger in what is now northern India.
The sanctuary was named Jim Corbett National Park in his honor in 1957, two years after his death. Corbett is most famous though, for the Champawat Tiger (tigress).
THE CHAMPAWAT TIGER
The Champawat Tigress is one of the most infamous man-eating tigers in history. She was responsible for an estimated 436 deaths in Nepal and the Kumaon area of India at the beginning of the 20th century. Originally, the tigress roamed the region of Nepal but was driven out after the Nepalese Army attempted to kill her.
She migrated to the Kumaon region in the state of Uttarakhand, India, where she continued her reign of terror. The tigress had developed a taste for human flesh, which many believe was due to an injury that prevented her from hunting her natural prey.
The Champawat Tigress was particularly elusive and cunning, making it extremely difficult for hunters to track and kill her. Villages were terrorized, and daily life was severely disrupted as people were afraid to venture out even in daylight. Eventually, the British government sought the help of Corbett, an accomplished hunter, to put an end to the menace.
He took up the challenge and followed the trail for several weeks. Utilizing his deep knowledge of animal behavior, tracking skills, and local knowledge, he finally managed to track her down in 1907 near the village of Champawat. He killed the tigress with a well-aimed shot, bringing an end to her reign of terror.
It was found that the tigress had broken canine teeth, which would have made it difficult for her to hunt natural prey, most probably explaining her turn to easier targets like humans. Corbett later wrote about this hunt, among others, in his book “Man-Eaters of Kumaon,” which became a bestseller and further elevated his status as a hunter and naturalist.
The hunting of the Champawat Tigress marked a turning point in Jim Corbett’s life. It was one of the incidents that made him think more deeply about the reasons behind the making of man-eaters and the importance of wildlife conservation.
Surprisingly, Corbett gave up big-game hunting and turned into a photographer and conservationist, advocating for the protection of India’s wildlife, especially the Bengal tiger.
JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK
Jim Corbett National Park is India’s oldest national park and was initially established as Hailey National Park in 1936. It’s located in the Nainital and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand and spans over 520 square kilometers. The park is a protected area for the critically endangered Bengal tiger and is part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve. Apart from tigers, the park is home to a variety of other wildlife including elephants, leopards, deer, and various species of birds.
The park is divided into different zones: Bijrani, Dhikala, Jhirna, Durgadevi, and Sonanadi. Each zone offers a unique experience and is known for specific kinds of flora and fauna. For instance, the Dhikala zone is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, while the Bijrani zone is famous for its grasslands and mixed forests.
Jim Corbett National Park is a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and tourists from all over the world. It offers a range of activities like Jeep and elephant safaris, bird watching, and trekking. The park also provides accommodation, ranging from basic lodges to luxury resorts, making it accessible for a variety of travelers.
Jim Corbett’s legacy as a conservationist and naturalist remains an inspiration for many, and the national park that bears his name continues to be a focal point for tiger conservation in India.