Conservation experts honoured at the Sálim Ali Awards for their remarkable work and passion for nature conservation
The Sálim Ali Awards organised by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) took place recently at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalay in Fort. Here's alook at what went down at the event and the winners who were felicitated.
The Sálim Ali Awards were initiated by the BNHS in 1997 and named after 'The Birdman of India'—Late Dr. Sálim Moizuddin Abdul Ali, an Indian ornithologist and naturalist and one of the pioneers of ornithology in India. Conferred with the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards, he became a notable figure in BNHS and carried out groundbreaking work for the same. The award function of BNHS aims to commemorate the outstanding work done by dedicated people in the field of nature and wildlife conservation. It comprises three categories: Sálim Ali International award, National Award for Nature Conservation and an award for Community Conservation. Deepak Aapte, COO, BNHS, says, "We hold these awards once every two years to honour the wonderful people who work in the field of conservation."
The recipient of this year's Sálim Ali International award was Prof. Ian Newton, a world-renowned British ornithologist who has studied a wide range of avian species and has conducted remarkable research in this field. His 27-year-old research on the Eurasian sparrowhawk's nesting population is considered one of the most comprehensive studies about any population of birds of prey. Prof. Newton says, "I feel absolutely honoured to be receiving this award. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Sálim Ali when he had come to meet my supervisor, while I was a student at the Oxford University. I had only met him for an hour but he had left a huge impression on me."
Padma Shri Dr. A.J.T. Johnsingh, an Indian vertebrate ecologist from Bengaluru received the Sálim Ali national award for nature conservation. Dr. Johnsingh is famous for his study of the dhole species at Bandipur National Park, which also constituted the subject for his PhD. The study was considered groundbreaking for it was the first time that an Indian scientist had conducted research of a free-ranging animal. Some of his other work includes conservation of the golden and blue-finned mahseer, tigers and the Western Ghats. Dr. Johnsingh shares, "I have been associated with the BNHS since 1971 and have benefited greatly from it. It feels nice to receive this award and I am grateful to BNHS."
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