Dr. Shelly Lakly, the daughter-in-law of Fayette state Representative Dan Lakly, is the vice president of education and conservation at Zoo Atlanta and her goal at the zoo is to create events for children and their families that stress the importance of conservation and empathy towards animals.

Lakly has also taken these messages to Chengdu, China, the area that donated Yang Yang and Lun Lun, two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta in 1997, and is in the process of spreading conservation education and training programs for over 170 zoos and parks across China.

Lakly, a Decatur resident, stated that there are three main goals the are working on as they try to create the profession of zoo educators in China. One is to establish a basic curriculum that includes camps and field trips for children, another is instructor training and the last is the establishment of an Academy of Conservation Training.

“What has taken 30 years to learn in the United States, we are trying to give to them in nine years,” said Lakly, who added that the goal was to be done with the project by 2009.

To accomplish these goals, Lakly and others have brought the best practices and research to China and offer an empathy based education, highlighting the emotional connection between humans, animals and the environment.

Lakly stressed the importance of people seeing animals as sentient beings and individuals. One of the ways this is done is by giving the students positive experiences with animals in nature and having them physically take care of the animals, particularly giant pandas, which is the flagship species of the program.

The original relationship between Atlanta and Chengdu resulted in a long-term conservation project donation to China and a 10-year, $10 million loan of giant pandas from the research base to the Atlanta zoo, which began in 1999.

The loan, which is now set to expire in four years, may be renegotiated by zoo President and CEO Dennis Kelly to extend the pandas’ stay in Atlanta.

Conservation is increasingly important in China because of the rapid industrial development occurring in the country, Officials have expressed concern over the habitat of the giant panda, of which there are only 1,500 left.

Lakly, who received her Masters in Conservation Ecology and her Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Georgia, has been to China three times this year and the programs have begun to be implemented thanks to funding from the United Parcel Service.

In addition to spreading awareness about an endangered habitat for the giant panda, Zoo Atlanta’s conservation education efforts have also included information on the impending extinction of several species of Asian turtles that have been exploited for commercial purposes throughout the continent.

Married to Dan Lakly’s son, also named Dan, for 11 years and the mother of identical twin boys who are almost 3 years old, Lakly is a busy lady. In addition to her work with China, Lakly also oversees the educational programming at the zoo, establishing family and school programs, like the monthly overnight visits.

“Our goal is to give visitors that ‘Wow’ experience,” said Lakly, who added that it is important for the visits to be inspirational as well as educational. Among the things that they are currently working on at Zoo Atlanta are a winter break camp for kids and a hush-hush children’s exhibit opening in April.

As someone who grew up with Zoo Atlanta, Lakly is proud to work there, spreading the message of conservation education not only to area residents but also to the people of China.

login to post comments