Leopard Hunt at Chamundi Hills: A Colonial Tale

Context:

This analysis recounts a 1908 incident where Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar allowed a British engineer, involved in electrifying Mysuru Palace, to hunt a leopard near Chamundi Hills. The story, shared by the engineer’s grandson in 2025, sheds light on colonial interactions, wildlife management, and Mysuru’s historical development as of March 24, 2025.

1. Incident Date: On June 27, 1908, a letter from the Maharaja’s Assistant Private Secretary permitted British engineer Fredrick William Willis to shoot a leopard near Chamundi Hills, Mysuru.
2. Engineer’s Role: Willis arrived in India in 1903, initially as a Station Operator, and by 1907 was installing a power plant to light Mysuru Palace, a key modernization project.
3. Leopard Threat: The leopard, one of several roaming the Chamundi foothills, troubled locals, prompting the Maharaja to authorize its hunt to protect the community.
4. Hunt Outcome: Willis successfully shot the leopard, had its skin taxidermied, and took it back to England as a trophy, now a family heirloom in New Zealand.
5. Grandson’s Visit: In 2025, Fred Willis, the engineer’s grandson, visited Mysuru with his wife Gill, sharing the 1908 letter and reflecting on his grandfather’s legacy.
6. Palace Electrification: The power plant project, completed post-1908, involved lighting the palace with 90,000 bulbs, designed by Harold Douglas Rice, marking Mysuru’s technological leap.
7. Colonial Context: The incident reflects British engineers’ dual role in colonial India—modernizing infrastructure while engaging in trophy hunting, sanctioned by local rulers.
8. Wildlife Legacy: Chamundi Hills’ leopard population persists, with a 2023 camera-trap study noting five leopards, indicating ongoing human-wildlife interactions.

Key Terms:

• Chamundi Hills: Scenic hills near Mysuru, historically home to wildlife like leopards.
• Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar: Maharaja of Mysore (1884–1940) who permitted the 1908 leopard hunt.
• Fredrick William Willis: British engineer who electrified Mysuru Palace and hunted the leopard.
• Mysuru Palace: Iconic royal residence, electrified in the early 20th century with 90,000 bulbs.
• Taxidermy: Preservation of the leopard’s skin as a trophy, taken to England.
• Colonial India: Period of British rule influencing local governance and wildlife policies.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: Tension between humans and animals, exemplified by the leopard threat.

Link To The Original Article – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/when-the-maharaja-permitted-a-british-engineer-to-shoot-leopard-near-chamundi-hills-in-mysuru/article69368321.ece