Dr Lalitha Vijayan is the Honorary Director of the Salim Ali Foundation. She works with the communities for sustainable development of Vellangallur Panchayat, in Thrissur District, Kerala.
A highly celebrated ornithologist, Dr Vijayan worked on “Comparative Biology of Drongos (Family: Dicruridae, Class: Aves) with special reference to ecological isolation at Thekkady in Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala” under the guidance of Dr. Salim Ali. At Bombay Natural History Society, Dr Vijayan held different positions as a Field Biologist, Research Biologist, Research Scientist & Scientist-in-charge of the Project “Ecological Study Project in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur”. As Scientist C, she worked on the Birds of Prey Project as in-charge of the southern region with two research staff. Dr Vijayan also worked with Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, in different positions such as Principal Scientist & Head, Division of Avian Ecology, Senior Principal Scientist, Senior Principal Scientist-II & I & Head, Division of Conservation Ecology. Research projects at SACON were on birds and their habitats in different regions of the country: Western Ghats, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Sikkim Himalaya, North-western India and, Inland wetlands of India. Status and Ecology of selected rare, endemic and threatened birds were studied, ecological requirements identified and management suggestions proposed for conservation. Bird communities in the above regions were also documented, areas prioritized for conservation and management.