Dr Jane visited Melbourne Zoo on the 12th of May, where she met Roots & Shoots members and Youth at the Zoo (YATZ) members.
Roots & Shoots members presented some of their projects to Dr Jane, which included protecting Leadbeater’s possums and their habitat, koala conservation, microplastic pollution and palm oil.
Isaac Busuttil is a passionate Wildlife Warrior
Libby Fisher, a powerful koala conservation & health advocate
St Peter’s Primary School supporting Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction Schools program & educating on sustainable palm oil
Liam Shaw a Platypus ambassador & microplastic advocate
Tahlia Walsh raising awareness on habitat protection for Leadbeater’s Possum
St Kilda Primary School championing protection of their local fairy penguin colonies & educating on organic waste collection procedures
Dr Jane also visited the Orang-utan enclosure at the zoo, where she spoke about the need for the mandatory labelling of palm oil and deforestation free palm oil production.
Roots & Shoots and YATZ members created posters demanding mandatory labelling of palm oil on Australian products. Dr Jane addressed attendees where she reinforced that youth taking action to create positive change was one of her biggest reasons for hope for a more sustainable future.
Dr Jane encouraged participants at the event to reduce their environmental footprint by making ethical choices and reducing or removing meat from their diet. Dr Jane also encouraged Roots & Shoots and YATZ members to persevere and never give up in their collective fight to create a better planet for animals, people and the environment.
Roots & Shoots would like to thank Melbourne Zoo and YATZ for hosting this event with us and we look forward to many such collaborations in future.
Asitha Samarawickrama | NYLC Coordinator
Photo Credits: Phil Hines
Melbourne Zoo – Palm Oil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcMcGDgrA74
JGIA acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands and pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.