He was 94 and is survived by six daughters and a son. A fifth generation Englishman in India, John was a hunter by instinct.
The man who introduced the concept of eco-tourism in Karnataka, Col John Felix Wakefield or Papa John as the conservationist and naturalist was called, breathed his last at Kabini in HD Kote of Mysore district on Monday.
He was 94 and is survived by six daughters and a son. A fifth generation Englishman in India, John was a hunter by instinct. He killed a tiger when he was 9 and was accompanying his father, who was an employee of the Maharaja of Tikara. But the Wildlife Preservation Act of 1972 changed all that and he became an arch conservationist.
Born on March 21, 1916 in Gaya, John knew the forest like the back of his hand. He rose to the rank of a colonel in the army, after participating in the World War II. After his stint with the army ended, he began a career in wildlife tourism.
John’s love story with Karnataka began 32 years ago when he came to Kabini from Tiger Tops resort in Nepal. He immediately fell in love with the place and was instrumental in setting up a Tiger Tops resort at Kabini. In 1984, the state government took over the resort and rechristened it as Jungle Lodges and Resorts, with John as its founding director. After this, Kabini became his home and locals were his family.
John was undergoing treatment in Bangalore’s Columbia Asia Hospital, for over a month. “Two days ago he expressed his desire to go back to Kabini and we brought him here. It was his last wish that his body be burnt rather than buried. This will happen on Tuesday and his great grandson will perform the last rites. After he became a conservationist, he believed that it was always better to shoot an animal with a camera rather than a gun,” his daughter, Jacqueline Lord, who stays in England and had come down to be with him for his last birthday, told DNA.
Sanjay Gubbi, assistant director (conservation policy), Wildlife Conservation Society — India Programme, Centre for Wildlife Studies, said, “Col Wakefield provided employment opportunities for villagers which was very crucial in building local support for conservation efforts.”
Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation managing director Vinay Luthra recalled: “John used to drive his jeep into the forest. It seemed like he used to talk to animals and they too recognised him. Once an elephant was running towards the jeep, Papa said stop and it stopped. This showed his rapport with animals.”
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