Mysuru: Sally Walker, a respected Zoo professional and an ardent proponent of rational Zoo reform, passed away in the United States. She was the driving force behind many innovative programmes in the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysuru Zoo) that includes the highly successful Youth Club. 

In a message posted in the Conservation Planning Specialist Group, wildlife conservationists have stated that Sally Raulston Walker passed away on Aug. 22.

Her death was confirmed to Star of Mysore by Mamatha Sathyanarayana, an Environment Educationist from Mysuru who had a close association with Sally Walker.  

Sally Walker was synonymous with Zoo and wildlife conservation in South Asia. A citizen of USA, she dedicated two-thirds of her life in India studying Yoga and Sanskrit and in the cause of animal and Zoo welfare. 

Sally came to India in 1975 to study Yoga and Sanskrit with Pattabhi Jois, a Master of Ashtanga Yoga and Professor of Sanskrit in University of Mysore. She had stayed on for 7 years and was thinking about leaving when she got involved with the Mysore Zoo. 

After observing blatant misbehaviour of visitors and mischief by staff with the animals at city Zoo, she founded the Friends of Mysore Zoo (FMZ) in 1981. She travelled extensively within India and abroad to see various Zoos. 

This and her constant studies of Zoo literature led her to understand there were serious anomalies in standards in the Zoos she visited and she brought this up with officials of the highest rank, discussing the difference between the Zoos of India with those of other parts of the world. 

Her friends say that a visit to the Mysore Zoo and a single meeting with new-born tiger cubs resulted in 40 years of dedicated service to Zoos and conservation in South Asia. 

She set up the Zoo Outreach Organisation (ZOO) in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, an iconic NGO in 1985 and straight away got into the business of influencing the Zoos in the country. After doing research, gathering data and combing the country, she made the first comprehensive list of Zoos in India, went straight to the Central Government with the plight of the animals in those Zoos, and initiated the setting up of the Central Zoo Authority. 

Sally advocated Conservation Science at ZOO and partnered with several organisations around the world to promote conservation welfare in Zoos.