Catherine Buckle(Cathy) was born in 1957 in Harare, Zimbabwe. She trained as a Social Worker at the University of Zimbabwe and graduated with a diploma in Social Work in 1978. She later trained as a Librarian and worked as the School Librarian and Head Counsellor at an Harare girls senior school. Cathy was the Estate Manager of a small conservation education game park – the Mukuvisi Woodlands – just outside Harare for 9 years, where she was involved in raising baby elephants, crocodiles and general game and conservation management. Cathy has four children’s novels in print in Zimbabwe, one of which is a set book for English Literature students in Zimbabwean government schools. Since 2000 Cathy has had eight non-fiction books published on the crisis in Zimbabwe: African Tears (serialised in the UK Sunday Times), Beyond Tears; Can you Hear the Drums; Millions, Billions, Trillions; When Winners are Losers; Finding our Voices; Sleeping Like a Hare; and Surviving Zimbabwe. Cathy has published two non-fiction books on wildlife and conservation in Zimbabwe: Imire, the Life and Times of Norman Travers; and Rundi, Hand Rearing Baby Elephants. Cathy writes a weekly letter from Zimbabwe about events there. This letter is used by a number of media outlets – radio, newspaper and web sites, in South Africa, the UK, Canada and Australia. The letter is also published on her own website www.cathybuckle.co.zw.
'I was totally absorbed. The book describes in graphic detail some of the horrors encountered by Meryl Harrison as she rescued animals in Zimbabwe but, despite the painful realities of those experiences, the book has been written with wit and an overwhelming sense of optimism.' SPVS: Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons 'This is a book I will never forget. It's definitely a story worth telling. Catherine Buckle has balanced these tragedies beautifully with uplifting and often humourous accounts of rescues. I rate this book highly, not only as an autobiography, but also as a historical record. In my opinion, Meryl Harrison should be made a Dame as soon as possible.' Country and Border Life 'In the unlikely event of the words failing to move you to tears of both sorrow and indignation, the photographs surely will.' Your Dog Magazine 'Innocent Victims is Cathy Buckle's enthralling account of a rescue mission of mammoth proportions...a dramatic portrayal of a professional courageous and dedicated woman...When you pick up Innocent Victims make yourself comfortable, because you won't want to put it down. It's a riveting read.' The Zimbabwean 'This book is a must-read...An extraordinary woman who really made a difference.' All About Dogs, South Africa