Ten-year-old Isabella Wilson of Waterview in Auckland has been named Young Conservationist of the Year for her personal campaign against the use of palm oil. In many everyday products, palm oil is grown in tropical climates, including in Indonesia - where rainforests are being cleared at a rapid rate to produce it, depriving the now critically endangered orang utan of its natural habitat.
Inspired after attending the zoo's orang utan encounter early this year, Isabella researched the palm oil issue, then proceeded to audit her parents', grandparents' and neighbours' pantries for products containing palm oil, and to challenge local retailers and restaurants. She gave a talk to her school, Pt Chevalier Primary, and convinced its management to remove products containing palm oil from its tuck shop. Friends and teachers have joined Isabella in giving up some favourite foods because of the palm oil content.
"The orang utans aren't doing anything to us, but we are killing them. They are amazing animals - they are the closest mammals to humans. We all need to stop buying products containing palm oil. Shopping takes us longer now because we have to check all the labels, but it's worth it," says Isabella.
Auckland Zoo conservation officer Peter Fraser says Isabella and Dr Bishop are "shining examples of how people with passion and drive can really make a difference."
"For Auckland Zoo, these awards are a great opportunity to recognise conservation excellence and to also profile conservation issues and further the shared conservation goals of New Zealanders. As the awards grow, we aim to secure sponsorship to enable us to offer substantial financial assistance to winners' conservation projects," says Mr Fraser.
