Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa is a Palestinian/German Zoologist, Ecologist and Geologist. Born in Saarbrücken, 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 Saarbrücken; 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, Luxemburg, 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.