Bombay Natural History Society

Hello! We are the Bombay Natural History Society, but many people call us by our initials, BNHS. Our story began a long time ago, way back in 1883. We started in a big city in India called Bombay, which is now known as Mumbai. We weren't started by a king or a government. Instead, we were created by a small group of just eight people. These founders were not all scientists, but they all shared a great love for nature. They were curious about all the wonderful plants and animals living in India and wanted to learn more about them. They decided to form a club where they could share what they found and learn from one another.

Our main goal has always been to explore and understand the natural world. From the very beginning, we encouraged people to go out and observe the wildlife around them. One of the most famous scientists who worked with us was named Sàlim Ali. He loved birds so much that he became known as the 'Birdman of India.' He spent his life studying birds, learning about their songs, their nests, and where they lived. With the help of people like Sàlim Ali, we have studied all kinds of creatures, from colorful butterflies to shy forest animals. We wanted to make sure that our discoveries didn't stay secret. That is why we write books and publish a magazine. This way, everyone can learn about India's amazing natural treasures.

To show our love for nature, we chose a special symbol for our logo: a beautiful bird called the great hornbill. This large bird, with its bright and impressive beak, reminds us of the incredible wildlife we work to protect. As we studied animals and plants, we realized that just learning about them was not enough. Many of their homes, like forests and wetlands, were in danger. So, our work grew to include protecting these wild places. We help make sure that animals have safe homes where they can find food, raise their families, and live freely. Protecting these habitats is one of the most important parts of our job.

Today, we are still very active and busy. Our work continues all across India. We still study nature, from the tiniest insects crawling on a leaf to the powerful tigers that roam the jungles. We also believe that it is very important to share our love for nature with others, especially young people. We teach children and grown-ups about the environment and show them why it is so important to take care of our planet. We hope that by sharing our knowledge, we can inspire everyone to help protect the wonderful world of living things for many years to come.