India, July 31 -- It is a rum thing, but it is often the most prolific hunters of wild creatures who turn into their fiercest defenders. Their reasons range from base selfishness - if we hunt every last wild animal down, there will not be any left for us to hunt - to a deep love and respect for wildlife and forests developed over long years of getting to know both intimately. To the latter category belonged the great tiger hunter from Nainital, Edward James 'Jim' Corbett, whose 150th birthday was celebrated last week, on July 25.

Beginning in 1885, when he shot his first leopard for sport as a boy of 10, Corbett would go on to shoot 19 tigers and 14 leopards, all documented man-eaters. Alongside, however, his thoughts turned to conservat...