Sue Hart was born in Austria in 1927; she spent her childhood in England and was educated at the Royal Veterinary College in London. She married immediately after qualifying as a vet post war and went to live in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.The African continent has been her home ever since.

It was not until some years later, as a single parent with two young children to bring up, that she moved to the

Lowveld area of the eastern Transvaal (now Mpumulanga) and started her own full-time general country veterinary practice. Close to the Kruger National Park, she became interested in wildlife practice and conservation of the natural environment at this time.

Nine years later, Dr. Hart re-kindled an old friendship from her student days with Dr. Toni Harthoorn, whom she subsequently married. In 1964 this duo vet team left for Kenya and were based in Nairobi. Together they researched the immobilisation of large-hooved animals and engaged in wildlife practice in the field. Pioneering operations were performed on many wild animals including the lions and cheetahs under the care of George and Joy Adamson. During this time Dr. Hart wrote the best seller “Life with Daktari” which proved to be a world-wide hit.

Sue left East Africa in the mid 70’s and returned to the Lowveld where she entered a new phase in her life becoming increasingly involved in African teacher training seminars and conservation awareness projects. In 1985 she founded Ecolink which she passionately champions today.

Dr. Hart is author of more than a dozen books, for both adults and children, and has produced numerous radio and TV series including appearances on the BBC’s “Jackanory” and “Play School” and the “The Animal Ark.”

She has been the recipient of several national Awards including the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services from the Lions Club International Foundation and the Terra Nova Award for her work in conservation.