David Hunt (ornithologist)
Encyclopedia
David Bassil Hunt was a British
ornithologist who will be remembered as "..the man who brought Scilly wildlife into the lives of thousands of people over a period of 20 years" and for the tragic cause of his death as the first "westerner" to be killed by a tiger for many decades.
Brought up on the Yealm estuary, he attended Gresham's School
in Norfolk and, in 1954 studied art and went on to work as a professional jazz trombonist in Germany. On returning to Britain he worked as a "horticulturalist" which led to Tresco and the Island Hotel where he became the gardener in 1964. He was based on the Isles of Scilly for many years, working as an international birding tour guide. He was killed by a Bengal tiger
in Jim Corbett National Park
, in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand
in northern India
, while leading a bird tour there, the same year that his autobiography, Confessions of a Scilly Birdman, was published. As a result of this incident, visitors are now forbidden to walk on the territory of the Jim Corbett National Park any time of the day if they are unattended by a certified guide.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ornithologist who will be remembered as "..the man who brought Scilly wildlife into the lives of thousands of people over a period of 20 years" and for the tragic cause of his death as the first "westerner" to be killed by a tiger for many decades.
Brought up on the Yealm estuary, he attended Gresham's School
Gresham's School
Gresham’s School is an independent coeducational boarding school in Holt in North Norfolk, England, a member of the HMC.The school was founded in 1555 by Sir John Gresham as a free grammar school for forty boys, following King Henry VIII's dissolution of the Augustinian priory at Beeston Regis...
in Norfolk and, in 1954 studied art and went on to work as a professional jazz trombonist in Germany. On returning to Britain he worked as a "horticulturalist" which led to Tresco and the Island Hotel where he became the gardener in 1964. He was based on the Isles of Scilly for many years, working as an international birding tour guide. He was killed by a Bengal tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
in Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park—named for the hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment—is the oldest national park in India. The park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park...
, in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
in northern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, while leading a bird tour there, the same year that his autobiography, Confessions of a Scilly Birdman, was published. As a result of this incident, visitors are now forbidden to walk on the territory of the Jim Corbett National Park any time of the day if they are unattended by a certified guide.