Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the founding year of BNHS, which is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research.
Detailed Explanation:
• History: BNHS was founded on September 15, 1883, by eight residents of Bombay (now Mumbai) who were interested in natural history.
• Founders: The group included Europeans and Indians, most notably Dr. Atmaram Pandurang and Dr. Sakharam Arjun.
• Mission: Its primary goal was to exchange information about local flora and fauna and to create a museum of specimens.
• Legacy: BNHS is famous for its "Hornbill" logo (inspired by 'William' the Great Indian Hornbill) and its prestigious journal, the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. It has played a key role in bird conservation and habitat protection in India.
Step 2: Final Answer:
The Bombay Natural History Society was founded in the year 18