Ask any conservationist and chances are they have heard of Frederick Walter Champion, a name synonymous with wildlife conservation in India. Champion is often credited for pioneering techniques that are now integral to modern conservation efforts. That's why, then, he is popularly known as the "Father of Camera Trap Photography." As a British officer in the Imperial Forestry Service (now known as the Indian Forest Service) and a passionate advocate for wildlife, Champion's work laid the foundation for conservationist practices today. Thanks to his works, wildlife researchers and conversationists can now monitor tiger populations and protect their habitats. His dedication to preserving India's wildlife has left an indelible mark on the field, influencing conservationists, photographers, and ecologists around the world.
Born on August 24, 1893, in Surrey, England, Champion was immersed in nature from a young age. His father, George Charles Champion, was an entomologist, and his brother and forester, Sir Harry George Champion, made significant contributions to forest classification in India. Frederick's early exposure to nature and wildlife set the stage for a life devoted to conservation.
Champion's journey to India began in 1913 when he joined the Police Department in East Bengal, a post he held until 1916. Soon after, he was commissioned into the British Indian Army Reserve of Officers. His military career saw him serve in the 31st Lancers and later with the Kurram Militia along the North West Frontier. After his retirement from the army in the early 1920s, Champion joined the Imperial Forestry Service, where he would go on to make his greatest contributions.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Champion was not enamoured by big-game hunting. Instead, he focused on documenting and protecting wildlife, particularly tigers. His early interest in photography led him to develop groundbreaking techniques to capture wildlife in its natural habitat. Champion's work would eventually earn him the title of "pioneer of wildlife photography in India," a recognition he shared with his close friend, the legendary Jim Corbett.
Champion's most notable achievement was the first-ever photograph of a tiger in the wild, a feat he accomplished after eight years of persistence. His breakthrough images, taken in the Kumaon forests, were published on the front page of "The Illustrated London News" on October 3, 1925, under the headline, "A Triumph of Big Game Photography: The First Photographs of Tigers in the Natural Haunts."
Champion's innovative approach to wildlife photography was based on a technique now widely known as camera trap photography. This method involved setting up a tripwire to trigger a camera when an animal, such as a tiger, walked by. The flash would startle the animal, often resulting in a clear image. Champion's technique was painstaking and required immense patience and precision. The results were stunning: high-quality photographs of tigers in their natural environment, far removed from the typical images of hunting trophies.
Champion's use of tripwire photography was a game-changer. Out of 200 camera placements, only 18 triggered, but Champion captured 11 clear photographs of nine individual tigers. His ability to identify these tigers by their distinct stripe patterns laid the groundwork for what would later become a vital tool in wildlife monitoring and research.
Today, camera traps are a standard method used by conservationists worldwide to monitor tiger populations, assess their movements, and perform censuses. The technique used now is more advanced, with modern camera traps offering better resolution and software to identify individual tigers based on their unique markings. The legacy of Champion's tripwire photography continues to influence conservation efforts to this day.
Beyond his photographic contributions, Champion was a tireless advocate for the protection of tigers and their habitats. He campaigned against hunting, proposing policies such as limiting gun licenses and banning motor vehicles from entering reserved forests. He also pushed for stricter laws to prevent the killing of wildlife, including reducing the rewards for hunters who killed tigers or other animals.
Champion's commitment to conservation extended beyond mere words. He worked closely with Corbett, a fellow conservationist. Together, they were instrumental in the establishment of India's first national park in 1935, later renamed Corbett National Park in 1957, now a symbol of the growing movement to protect India's rich wildlife and forests.
When India gained independence in 1947, Champion moved to East Africa, where he continued his work as a Divisional Forest Officer in the Kilimanjaro and Serengeti regions. Despite the ease of wildlife photography in Africa, Champion continued to reflect fondly on his time in India, where photographing tigers was a far more challenging endeavour.
Champion's work was not limited to tigers alone. His book "The Jungle in Sunlight and Shadow" captured the diversity of India's wildlife—from the scaly anteater to the pangolin—and he was among the first to take nighttime photographs of leopards, sloth bears, and dholes. His advocacy for the protection of all wildlife, not just the charismatic megafauna, shaped the discourse on conservation in India and beyond.
At the time of his death in 1970, Champion's influence was profound. His work laid the foundation for the modern approach to wildlife conservation, and his pioneering role in camera trap photography is widely acknowledged. As Kailash Sankhala, the first director of Project Tiger, once remarked, "If tigers had been given a vote, the Corbett National Park would have been named after Champion."
Frederick Walter Champion's legacy lives on not only in the tigers he helped protect, but also in the countless conservationists and wildlife photographers who continue to use the techniques he pioneered. His unwavering commitment to protecting India's wildlife, long before it was fashionable, ensured that future generations would have the tools and knowledge to continue the fight for the preservation of our natural world.