was the first man eater shot by corbett (English
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The Champawat man-eater finds primary mention in James Edward Corbett’s first book, Man-Eaters of Kumaon. The deadly animal, later discovered to be a tigress, had instilled fear so deep in the hearts of the people of Kumaon in Uttarakhand that even basic sanitation in their village was lacking.
The tigress reached Kumaon from Nepal as a full-fledged man-eater with a death count of 234 and rising.
Corbett had hunted many tigers, but this was his first time killing a man-eater. After many days of tracking, he chanced upon the tigress while she was devouring her 436th and last prey — a 16-year-old girl.
He wrote in his book, “The track of the tigress was clearly visible. On one side of it were great splashes of blood where the girl’s head hung down, and on the other side the trail of her feet.”
Corbett spent four hours following the tigress, but couldn’t get a good shot. Soon, he had lost daylight. The following day, along with the help of 298 villagers, Corbett killed the tigress with three gunshots.
It was later discovered that her teeth were broken, forcing her to eat human flesh, and thus confirming Corbett’s theory that the species are not inherently man-eaters. This understanding of the difference, and his ability to be both a hunter and conservation champion, is what Corbett came to be known for.
James Edward Corbett, more popularly remembered as Jim Corbett, was born in Nainital, Uttarakhand, on 25 July 1875. His father was a postmaster and mother, an influential quasi real estate agent. Corbett grew up in the jungles of Uttarakhand and spent most of his childhood exploring the wilderness. Such experience and his exceptional observational skills guided him to become a hunter of man-eating tigers and leopards.
His love for nature and wildlife shone through as he strongly supported the All-India Conference for the Preservation of Wildlife. He was especially fond of tigers and pulled all strings possible to create a national reserve for endangered Bengal tigers.
An avid photographer and author, he penned many books recounting his hunting days.
His contribution to wildlife and nature was acknowledged when two years after his death in 1955, India’s first national park was renamed after him. Today, Jim Corbett National Park is a premier spot for sighting of big cats.
On Corbett’s 144th birth anniversary, here’s a look at how human-wildlife conflict and habitat destruction still threaten the existence of tigers, despite conservation efforts.
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