Dr. Salim Ali (12 November 1896 – 20 June 1987) was an Indian ornithologist, conservationist, and writer. He is considered the father of ornithology in India.
Dr. Salim Ali was a famous Ornithologist in India. He was also a popular naturalist. He gave a lot in the field of Ornithology which is the study of birds. As a bird lover, he spent many years studying the traits of birds. This nature lover was also known as the “Birdman of India”. He wrote many books related to birds. Besides, he conducted systematic bird surveys.
Childhood
Dr. Salim Moizuddin Abdul Ali was truly a birdman of India. He helped to raise the popularity of bird study in the country. Born on November 12, 1896, in Mumbai, he had a tough childhood. His parents died when he was a child. His uncle and aunt raised him. In fact, his uncle made interest in birds in him. Birds were freely available in the markets of Mumbai. He bought them to study their traits. After that he released them.
Information About Birds
Dr. Salim had deep knowledge of birds. In fact, he gathered a lot of information about them. His wife accompanied him and helped him. He was very much interested in this subject. Although he got a job in an export unit, he left that to join at the Natural History Society Museum of Mumbai as a guide lecturer. It was important for him to do a systematic study of birds to get authority on birds. Later he studied bird science and became a world-famous ornithologist.
Support For Ornithology
Dr. Salim Ali gave support for the growth of ornithology in India. He could identify the main areas of it. Besides, he obtained funds for the development of this subject. In fact, he could develop a unit for economic ornithology in the Indian Council for Agricultural Research.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
There is one bird sanctuary in Kerala known in the name of Dr. Salim Ali. Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary in Ernakulam district in Kerala is also known as Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. It is located on the banks of River Periyar. He found that this area is a great habitat for birds. The rich forests and unique landscapes make this area suitable for birds. All bird watchers should visit this sanctuary to watch many types of birds. You can watch plenty of colorful butterflies also in this area.
Books
Dr. Salim Ali wrote many books and journals related to birds. Some of the main books of this bird lover are:
- The Book of Indian Birds
- The Fall of a Sparrow
- Common Birds
In addition, he wrote many other books with other writers. Yes, Salim Ali contributed a lot to the field of ornithology.