Syed Abdulla Hussain

Syed Abdulla Hussain was an Indian ornithologist who worked at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) along with the renowned Salim Ali. He was born in Karkala, near Mangalore, in 1944 to a lawyer father and a homemaker mother. He had a keen interest in nature and wildlife since his childhood. He obtained a university degree in science from Sri Bhuvanendra College at Karkala. He applied for a field research position in the Bird Migration study project of the BNHS and was accepted by Salim Ali, who recognized his talent and enthusiasm. Hussain accompanied Ali on many expeditions and later conducted surveys on his own. He made several contributions to the knowledge of Indian birds, such as discovering new records, range extensions, and taxonomic clarifications. He also visited Narcondam Island to study the endemic Narcondam hornbill and captured two adult hornbills and their chicks. He became assistant curator of the BNHS in 1979, a senior scientist from 1985 to 1990 and then a deputy director of research until 1992. He later moved to Malaysia where he headed the Asian Wetland Bureau. He was also briefly the vice-chairman of BirdLife International. After retiring from work, he moved back to live in Karkala, where he started the Biodiversity Initiative Trust. The organization worked locally, particularly for conservation of the Kudremukh region. He suggested a plan for the conversion of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company township into a biodiversity research station as mining in this biodiversity hotspot had been stopped by the Indian government. He died of a heart attack at his home on 30 December 2009. A species of frog Nyctibatrachus hussaini from Kudremukh near his home, was named after him but the species name later became embroiled in controversy.