Marijcke Jongbloed Author & Illustrator

Dr Marijcke Jongbloed has had a varied career as a medical doctor, writer, amateur biologist and champion of wildlife conservation. Born in a Japanese internment camp in Indonesia, she grew up in Holland, Canada and Indonesia, returning there after graduating in medicine. She moved to Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to work as a family doctor and while there, indulged her passion for natural history. Concern about the unprotected status of wild animals in the region triggered an involvement in wildlife conservation. She was founding chairman of the Arabian Leopard Trust in 1993, the first non-government organisation that aimed at raising public awareness, breeding endangered species in captivity and working towards the creation of nature reserves. She has written extensively on the natural history of the UAE. Her work for the environment in the UAE was recognised with civil honours there and in Holland. She now lives in France.