Jan Lindblad
Encyclopedia
Jan Victor Armas Lindblad (July 19, 1932 - April 5, 1987) was a Swedish
naturalist, writer, photographer, film maker, and whistling
artist who imitated animals.
Lindblad was born in Örebro
, Sweden
in 1932. He made his debut in the early 1950s, performing in various revue
s, as a juggler and whistling artist. The latter talent made him one of the 1970s best-selling record artist in his native Sweden
. One of his biggest hits was his whistling
interpretation of the American folk song Oh Shenandoah
, recorded in 1977.
Lindblad was also known for his wildlife films, such as Ett vildmarksrike (A wildlife realm) of 1964; Guyana – vattnens land (Guyana
– Land of waters) of 1975; and Djungelbokens värld (The World of the Jungle Book) of 1980. In addition, he produced several nature films for television, including series from India
and Latin America
. Many of Lindblad's films were recorded as he stayed with indigenous people, for example in Guana
in 1964. For his nature films, Lindblad was awarded the Stora Journalistpriset
award in 1970, and in 1980, he was awarded an honorary degree
at Stockholm University
. Lindblad was also an activist who fought against keeping wild animals in small cages
; and known for his project of keeping two Bengal tiger
cub
s, named Lillan and Rani, in his Swedish residence.
Lindblad suffered from diabetes, and after a visit to Sri Lanka
also from a tropical disease
; he died suddenly of kidney failure in Stockholm
in 1987.
In 1998, a series of two postage stamp
s, engraved by the accomplished postage stamp
engraver Czeslaw Slania
, was issued by the Swedish Postal Service
with Lindblad and his two rather unusual pet
s, the tiger cubs Lillan and Rani.
(1970)
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
naturalist, writer, photographer, film maker, and whistling
Whistling
Human whistling is the production of sound by means of carefully controlling a stream of air flowing through a small hole. Whistling can be achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips and then blowing or sucking air through the hole...
artist who imitated animals.
Lindblad was born in Örebro
Örebro
-Sites of interest:Örebro's old town Wadköping is located on the banks of Svartån . It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1932. He made his debut in the early 1950s, performing in various revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
s, as a juggler and whistling artist. The latter talent made him one of the 1970s best-selling record artist in his native Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. One of his biggest hits was his whistling
Whistling
Human whistling is the production of sound by means of carefully controlling a stream of air flowing through a small hole. Whistling can be achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips and then blowing or sucking air through the hole...
interpretation of the American folk song Oh Shenandoah
Oh Shenandoah
"Oh Shenandoah" is a traditional American folk song of uncertain origin, dating at least to the early 19th century...
, recorded in 1977.
Lindblad was also known for his wildlife films, such as Ett vildmarksrike (A wildlife realm) of 1964; Guyana – vattnens land (Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
– Land of waters) of 1975; and Djungelbokens värld (The World of the Jungle Book) of 1980. In addition, he produced several nature films for television, including series from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. Many of Lindblad's films were recorded as he stayed with indigenous people, for example in Guana
Guana
Guana may refer to:* Guana Island, an island in the British Virgin Islands* Guiana Island , also called Guana Island* Roberto Guana, footballer...
in 1964. For his nature films, Lindblad was awarded the Stora Journalistpriset
Stora Journalistpriset
Stora Journalistpriset is an annual Swedish award, founded in 1966 by Bonnier AB, given to "promote good professional achievements in the field of journalism".The prize money is SEK 100,000 and is awarded in four categories:...
award in 1970, and in 1980, he was awarded an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
at Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
. Lindblad was also an activist who fought against keeping wild animals in small cages
Cage (enclosure)
A cage is an enclosure made of mesh, bars or wires, used to confine, contain or protect something or someone. A cage can serve many purposes, including keeping an animal in captivity, capturing, and being used for display of an animal at a zoo.-History:...
; and known for his project of keeping two Bengal tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
cub
Cub
A cub is the young of certain large predatory animals such as bears, lions, wolves, and big cats; analogous to a domestic puppy or kittenCub may refer to:* Cub, a member of Cub Scouts* Cub player, a member of certain sports teams, e.g...
s, named Lillan and Rani, in his Swedish residence.
Lindblad suffered from diabetes, and after a visit to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
also from a tropical disease
Tropical disease
Tropical diseases are diseases that are prevalent in or unique to tropical and subtropical regions. The diseases are less prevalent in temperate climates, due in part to the occurrence of a cold season, which controls the insect population by forcing hibernation. Insects such as mosquitoes and...
; he died suddenly of kidney failure in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in 1987.
In 1998, a series of two postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s, engraved by the accomplished postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
engraver Czeslaw Slania
Czeslaw Slania
Czesław Słania was an accomplished postage stamp and banknote engraver. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Słania was the most prolific of all stamp engravers, with over 1000 stamps to his credit...
, was issued by the Swedish Postal Service
Posten (Sweden)
Posten AB is the name of the Swedish postal service. The word "posten" means "the post" or "the mail" in Swedish.Posten was established in 1636 by Axel Oxenstierna under the name Kungliga Postverket , although its origins can be traced further back, and it was operated as a government agency into...
with Lindblad and his two rather unusual pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
s, the tiger cubs Lillan and Rani.
Media
, Jan Lindblad interviewed by Swedish talkshow host Lennart HylandLennart Hyland
Lennart Hyland , was a Swedish TV-show host and journalist and one of the most popular and renowned TV personalities in the history of Swedish television...
(1970)