Man of the jungle who spoke for its residents

Jim Corbett is 150. India’s conservation wins bear his imprint

- Saket Badola

As we commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Edward James Corbett, known better as Jim Corbett, today, it is time to revisit the remarkable life of the man who was not just a renowned hunter of man-eater tigers but also a naturalist, a writer par excellence and a pioneer conservationist, whose legacy continues to echo in the Indian jungles.

Born in 1875 in Nainital, Corbett was the eighth child in the large family of Christopher Corbett, then the postmaster of Nainital, and Mary Jane Corbett, who was known for her charity work in the region. Growing up amidst Kumaon’s beauty, young Corbett developed an intimate bond with the forests and its wildlife. His early years fostered a deep understanding of the Indian jungles, their wildlife, and the people who inhabited them. Fluent in local dialects and a keen observer of the forest, Corbett became a legend for both his hunting prowess and his empathy towards the rural communities living in fear of man-eating tigers and leopards.

In the colonial era, Indian wildlife ‘was often viewed through the lens of sport hunting. Legal hunting of tigers and other animals was widespread, with shikar being a popular pursuit among the colonial elite. Trophy hunting expeditions were frequent, killing some of the subcontinent’s most fascinating animals in unbelievably large numbers. It was in this milieu that Corbett’s remarkable transformation from hunter to conservationist took place.

Corbett served in the British Indian Army as a commissioned colonel. His postings included military camps in far-flung areas, where he gained further exposure to rugged terrains and survival skills that would later aid his jungle pursuits. Despite his military responsibilities, his heart remained tied to the forests of Kumaon.