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The
Bombay Natural History Society was founded in 1883 for the purpose of
exchanging notes and observations on natural history and exhibiting
specimens. Today, it is the largest non-governmental organisation (NGO) in
the subcontinent engaged in the conservation of nature and natural
resources, education and research in natural history, with members in 30
countries.
The
Society's guiding principle has always been that conservation must be
based on scientific research - a tradition exemplified by its late
president, Dr. Sálim Ali.
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Important Bird
Projects of the BNHS |
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Collection:
Much of today's information on the wildlife
of India and neighbouring countries during the British Raj was collected
by the BNHS. The Society's collection of specimens of over 26,000 birds, 20,000 mammals, 7,500 reptiles and amphibians
and 50,000 insects is recognised for both its quality and antiquity, and has been recognised as
a National Heritage collection. Several extinct species are represented in
the collection.
Library:
The library at Hornbill House has a large
collection of books and scientific journals on wildlife and the
environment, including century-old books on shikar and rare natural
history lithographs that are not available elsewhere.
Nature Education:
The Society's Nature Education Wing reaches
over 10,000 students each year. With our recent tie-up with the Overseas
Development Administration, U.K., environmental education activity has
taken off with the launching of major innovative programmes aimed at
building participative support of the local people in solving
environmental issues.
Conservation:
The Sálim Ali Nature Conservation Fund (SANCF)
creates awareness among target groups. Training programmes are conducted
for officers of the Indian Army, IAS, IFS, journalists, etc. It also funds
conservation oriented research projects.
University Studies Department:
Since 1957, the BNHS has been affiliated as
a Post Graduate Department with the University of Bombay for field studies
in Zoology and Botany
[Download
brochure].
Research:
The BNHS has pioneered the study of the
Indian fauna starting with the Mammal Survey of the Subcontinent and
adjoining states of Burma (Myanmar) and Sri Lanka between the years 1913
and 1923. Subsequently, the Society studied the Avifauna of the
Subcontinent starting with a survey of the Avifauna of the Eastern Ghats
followed by surveys of the Avifauna of the then states of Hyderabad,
Travancore, Cochin, Mysore, states of Central India, Gujarat, Orissa,
Berar, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Bhutan - all by Dr. Salim Ali. The
Andamans and Nicobar Islands were extensively surveyed by Mr. Humayun
Abdulali, presently the doyen among Indian ornithologists. All the
material and data are housed at the Society.
The Society had also undertaken a number of
projects on the study of many endangered species of wildlife and their
habitats. Notable among these, were the projects on the Asian elephant,
Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Bengal Florican, Jerdon's Courser,
bird migration studies, the study on bird hazards to aircrafts and
ecosystem studies at Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary and Keoladeo
National Park. The BNHS now has a Bird Hazard Research cell and an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) cell, and also has a number of
ongoing and proposed field based projects.
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