The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is an institution, specifically the largest non-government organisation (NGO) in the Indian subcontinent engaged in nature conservation research. It was founded on September 15, 1883, when eight residents of Bombay, including two Indians, met at the Victoria and Albert Museum (now Jijamata Udyan) to form a society for the study of Natural History. The society was created to encourage one another, exchange notes, and exhibit interesting specimens, establishing a tradition of conservation based on scientific research.
The BNHS works through a mechanism of action based on research, education, and public awareness to conserve nature and biological diversity. Its guiding principle is that conservation must be grounded in scientific research, a tradition exemplified by its late president, the renowned ornithologist Dr. Sálim Ali. The society publishes the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society and the quarterly magazine Hornbill. It is headquartered at Hornbill House in Mumbai, a building funded by the Government of India and completed in 1965.
The BNHS connects to the government as a 'Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation' designated by the Department of Science and Technology and receives funding from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It is the Indian partner of BirdLife International. Recently, the BNHS has proposed to drop "Bombay" from its name and adopt Bharat Natural History Society (or BNHS India) to reflect its pan-national presence, a proposal reconfirmed in a governing council meeting on September 21, 2012. The abbreviation BNHS is intended to remain its official identity.