Watch the launch of the campaign  - held at Melbourne Zoo on Sunday 16th August - on Youtube

On 17th August 2009, Melbourne Zoo launched a campaign to help save the lives of orang-utans in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.

The 'Don't Palm Us Off' campaign aims to gain community support for legislative change to this labelling legislation.

Making it mandatory to list palm oil on labels would enable consumers to make an informed choice about which products they want to buy.

In addition to reducing demand for unsustainable palm oil production that is devastating orang-utan habitat, the Zoo's campaign also aims to increase consumer demand for sustainable palm oil which is produced without harm to wildlife.

The Zoo recieved over 130,000 signatures in a petition calling for the mandatory labelling of palm oil, and these will soon be used to lobby government. Zoos Victoria is now asking the community to write to their local politicians and food manufacturers about the issue.

Ambassadors of the program include:

• Kim Watkins host of Channel Ten's 9am with Kim and David, she is also a passionate advocate for palm oil labeling and has been responsible for alerting Australian audiences to the plight of the Orang-utan in the wild.
  
• George Calombaris is not only a renowned chef, he has also been a very strong supporter of Zoos Victoria's conservation work, and this campaign is no different.
  
• Claire Hooper is one of the stars of Good News Week as well as a renowned comedian, she has joined forces with Zoos Victoria for this very serious cause.
  
• Brodie Harper has taken us to some of the most interesting places in Victoria as a presenter on Channel Nine's Postcards.
  
• As co-host of Channel 9's Saturday morning kids show, Kids WB, Heidi Valkenburg is a godsend to many parents - she is also a passionate advocate for our campaign.
  
• Kerrie Mouthaan is not only the voice of Nova 100s drive time news, she has also lent her support to this important campaign.