Das Buch: Fauna Palaestina. Eine Zoologische Reise in Palaestina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1983-2009.
von: Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa.
ISBN 978-9948-03-865-8
Note: The Book is in preparation for Summer 2009.
Erschienen: 1. Auflage: Juli 2009.
Literaturangaben. - Parallelsacht. in arab. Schr. - Text teilw. dt., teilw. engl., teilw. arab. - Teilw. in arab. Schr.
Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf, 2009, ISBN 978-9948-03-865-8, Gebunden Hardback. 1. Auflage: 400 Seiten. zahlr. schwarz-weiss Abbildungen - Format: 30 x 21,5 cm, Gewicht: 1.300 gramm. Preis: 50,00 Euro.
Selbstverlag: Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf. P.O. Box 37038, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates & Uhlandstrasse 6, D-66271 Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
German / English Cover Foto: "Fauna Palaestina". Pottery & Foto by Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa.
Arabic Cover Foto: "Haywanat" (Tiere/Animals). Pottery by Nora Khalaf (9 Years). Foto by Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa.
Cover Design / Umschlaggestaltung: Ola Khalaf. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Printed and bound in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Preface:
The Story behind "Fauna Palaestina" :
My life has been related and influenced always in one way or another with all kinds of Animals. My father loved animals since his childhood in Jaffa, Palestine; and because of that our home was always full with all sorts of different animals: sheep, goats, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, birds (Canary, bulbul, parrot, love birds), Aquarium fish (Sea water and fresh water fishes), land turtles, terrapins; and I also added Insects (beetles, locusts, ants, butterflies), toads, hedgehogs and snakes from the Kuwaiti Environment.
I used to live with Animals, and care for them, since I was a small boy; and after finishing school I decided to study Zoology in the University, and to become a Zoologist.
My first published scientific article goes back to January 1980, when I was still a student in the Zoology Department in Kuwait University, State of Kuwait. The article was about "the colouration of Animals".
I was especially interested in the Arabian Wildlife, in particular in my Homeland Palestine. My first zoological article about the Palestinian Fauna dates back to February 1983. The article was about "the Badger in Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula".
Since that time, I had published many scientific articles in different scientific magazines and bulletins, and established my own Palestinian Biological Bulletin. In July 1983, "Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin" was created. It was the First Palestinian Scientific Bulletin Worldwide.
My first zoological article in "Gazelle" was about "Order Lagomorpha in Palestine". Till now 84 "Gazelle" Issues were published; and many of my articles were about Palestinian Animals.
Finally, and after more than 30 years in Zoological research and studies, in Palestine and many Arabic and European countries, and after publishing many scientific articles in different scientific magazines and bulletins, especially the "Gazelle Bulletin", and after publishing many articles in the Gazelle Bulletin Web Site, since 2001 under (www.gazelle.8m.net), and after publishing most of my articles on the internet under (www.oocities.org), and after publishing my first book (Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. A Scientific Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1983-2004) in July 2004, and my second book (Aquatica Arabica. An Aquatic Scientific Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1980-2005) in August 2005, and my third book (Mammalia Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1980-2006) in July 2006, and my fourth book (Felidae Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1980-2007) in July 2007, and my fifth book (Carnivora Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 2005-2008) in September 2008, I finally decided to publish a new scientific book containing all my "Palestinian" research and articles which were published in the last twenty seven years.
It is hard to be optimistic about the future of Wildlife in Palestine. But recent years have shown the development of official and public interest, and efforts to conserve the Palestinian Fauna. Palestinian animals lived with humans for thousands of years. There is a lot of stories concerning Prophets with Palestinian animals, which were mentioned in the Holy Quran, Bible and Torah.
I hope that I can participate with my new book to our knowledge concerning "Fauna Palaestina", and to help and to be part in protecting the endangered Palestinian and Arabian Fauna.
Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
July 2009.
About the Author
Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa is a Palestinian/German Zoologist, Ecologist and Geologist. Born in Saarbruecken, Saarland, Germany in 1962. Finished School in Kuwait. Studied Zoology, Geology and Ecology for the Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees at the Universities of Kuwait, Durham (England) and Ashwood (USA). Specialised in Animal Behaviour and Ecology. Done a lot of work and research in the Universities of Kuwait, Durham and Saarbruecken; and in the Zoos, Wild Parks and Field Studies in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, England, Scotland, Jersey Island, France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.
He is the author and publisher of "Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin", the first Palestinian scientific journal worldwide (since 1983); and the author of six books: Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (2004) & Aquatica Arabica (2005) & Mammalia Arabica (2006) & Felidae Arabica (2007) & Carnivora Arabica (2008) & Fauna Palaestina (2009).
He discovered and scientifically named two Palestinian mammal subspecies from the Gaza Strip: The Palestine Golden Jackal (Canis aureus palaestina Khalaf, 2008) and the Gaza or Palestine House Mouse (Mus musculus gazaensis Khalaf, 2007).
He is working now as a free scientific researcher and publisher in the United Arab Emirates. He is married to Ola Khalaf and has one daughter, Nora.
