John C. Jacob (1936 – 11 October 2008) was one of the pioneers of the environmental movement in Kerala, India. John Jacob was born at Nattakam in Kottayam. He earned a degree in zoology from Madras Christian College, after which he joined the faculty at St. Joseph's College, Devagiri in Kozhikode. Eventually he headed up the Zoology Department at Payyanur College, where he worked until he retired in 1992.