Why this matters now
Salim Ali is tested for: the systematic bird surveys he conducted from 1930 onwards across the princely states, his role in establishing the Keoladeo (Bharatpur) sanctuary, his contributions to BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society), and his honours (Padma Vibhushan 1976, BNHS centenary medal).
From a Sparrow to systematic ornithology
Born to a Sulaimani Bohra Muslim family of Bombay, the young Salim shot a sparrow with an air-gun at age 10 — an incident that drew him to the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and to ornithology for life. After failed careers at the family tungsten mine (Burma) and as a guide at the Prince of Wales Museum, he persuaded the Nizam of Hyderabad to sponsor a year-long systematic bird survey of his state in 1930. This produced his first major paper and the model he later applied to Travancore-Cochin, Hyderabad, Mysore, Bhopal, Bikaner, Gwalior and Indore.
Major work: BNHS, Bharatpur, Handbook
Salim Ali was Honorary Secretary of BNHS for decades, transforming it from a colonial natural-history club into a scientific institution. His 10-volume Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (with S. Dillon Ripley, 1968-74) remains the definitive reference. He single-handedly convinced PM Indira Gandhi to ban duck-shooting at Bharatpur (Keoladeo Ghana) and to declare it a sanctuary — it became a Ramsar site (1981) and UNESCO World Heritage Site (1985).
Honours and legacy
Salim Ali received the Padma Bhushan (1958), Padma Vibhushan (1976), the J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize (1976), and was elected an Honorary Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thattekad (Kerala) — India’s first bird sanctuary — and the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) at Coimbatore are named after him. He continued field work until his death at age 91 in Mumbai on 20 June 1987.
UPSC angle
Know Sálim Ali — Birdman of India, systematic bird surveys from 1930 (started with Nizam of Hyderabad survey), then Travancore-Cochin/Mysore/Bhopal/Bikaner/Gwalior/Indore; Bombay Natural History Society BNHS long-time Honorary Secretary; 10-vol Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (with S. Dillon Ripley, 1968-74); convinced Indira Gandhi to protect Bharatpur Keoladeo Ghana (Ramsar 1981, UNESCO 1985); Padma Bhushan 1958, Padma Vibhushan 1976; Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Thattekad (Kerala, India’s first); SACON Coimbatore.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Salim Ali called the Birdman of India?
He conducted the first systematic statewide bird surveys in India (from 1930) and authored the definitive Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan.
What is Salim Ali’s connection to Bharatpur?
He persuaded PM Indira Gandhi to ban duck-shooting at Keoladeo Ghana and declare it a sanctuary — now Bharatpur Keoladeo National Park, a Ramsar site and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What is SACON?
The Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History at Coimbatore — a national institution for ornithological research named after him.
What honours did Salim Ali receive?
Padma Bhushan (1958), Padma Vibhushan (1976), and the J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize (1976).