Modern Zoos, Orangutan Habitats, and Palm Oil Solutions with Amy Robbins

I am so excited to talk to Amy Robbins, a self-declared “jack of all trades, master of none,” but honestly, an incredibly impressive person.

Amy is the Deputy Curator of Mammals at Auckland Zoo and the founder of the Sumatran Ranger Project. She has been working with animals and finding innovative ways to help them for decades, and it is an honour to share her story with you.

Find us online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/now-that-s-what-i-call-podcasts
‍
Follow me on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/

‍Wanna know more about Incrediballs?
‍‍www.incrediballs.com‍
‍https://www.instagram.com/incrediballsdrinks/
‍‍https://www.tiktok.com/@incrediballsdrinks

Transcript

Brianne: Kia ora kaitiaki and welcome to Now That's What I Call Green. I'm your host, Brianne West—an environmentalist and entrepreneur trying to get you as excited about our planet as I am. I'm all about using science to make the world a better place—without the judgment, and making it fun. And of course, we’ll be chatting about some of the most amazing creatures we share our planet with.

If you're looking to navigate everything green—or not so green—you've come to the right place.

Kia ora, and welcome back.

Today, we’re talking to Amy Robbins, the Deputy Curator of Mammals at Auckland Zoo. Amy has spent 24 years at Auckland Zoo, which I didn’t even know people did anymore—testament to her dedication to conservation.

But she doesn’t stop there. Amy also runs multiple non-profits, has started her own business, and is planning to donate all her profits to conservation. She’s an absolute force of nature and a legend of conservation, and I’m so delighted she made time for this.

Amy, thank you so much for joining me! I really appreciate it.

Meet Amy Robbins

Brianne: When did we first meet?

Amy: It was at the zoo. I think you came in for a behind-the-scenes with orangutans.

Brianne: That’s right! I remember—one blew a raspberry at me and was told off for bad manners. That’s when it really hit me how clever they are.

Alright, first things first—who are you and what do you do?

Amy: Oh, imposter syndrome is real!

I’m Amy Robbins, and I have my fingers in a lot of pies. But my day job—my bread and butter—is Deputy Curator of Mammals at Auckland Zoo.

I manage the mammal teams and their team leaders, making sure we’re delivering the highest standard of animal welfare and meeting the zoo’s objectives.

But my true passion? Orangutans.

I’ve been fortunate to work in Indonesia, in Sumatra, with the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program. I volunteer to train staff on caring for orangutans, particularly those who can’t be released due to disabilities or human impact.

I also founded a non-profit in Sumatra called the Sumatran Ranger Project in 2016. We have a team of 11 rangers and 15 staff, patrolling the Gunung Leuser National Park, which is a hotspot for Sumatran tigers, orangutans, elephants, and rhinos.

And more recently, I finally started a business—Raw Conservation Adventures, running conservation-focused trips in North Sumatra. It’s all about meaningful connections between people, wildlife, and communities.

So yeah, I keep busy!

The Zoo Debate: Are Zoos Bad?

Brianne: Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room—pun intended.

There’s still a lot of debate about whether zoos should exist.

And here’s the thing—no one disagrees that wild animals shouldn’t be in cages. But we’ve messed up the planet so badly that, unfortunately, zoos are necessary.

Do you get a lot of flack for working at a zoo?

Amy: Not so much anymore, because Auckland Zoo has a strong reputation.

Yes, there are terrible zoos—I’ve seen them, and they’re heartbreaking. Animals in tiny cages, no enrichment, no care. And yes, that gives all zoos a bad name.

But there are also really good, modern zoos—and I’m lucky to work at one.

Auckland Zoo is a world leader in:
✔ Animal welfare—based on science and research, not just claims.
✔ Conservation—our teams spend thousands of hours in the field.
✔ Transparency—we show both the highs and lows of what we do.

We’ve worked in New Zealand and globally to release endangered species, support conservation projects, and lend expertise where it’s needed most.

So yeah, bad zoos exist—but Auckland Zoo is a conservation organization first and foremost.

Auckland Zoo’s Orangutan Habitat

Brianne: Let’s talk orangutans.

One of my favorite things at Auckland Zoo is the incredible orangutan habitat.

But real talk—what happens if they fall?

Amy: Haha, we get asked that a lot! But orangutans don’t just fall—they are built for trees.

Our high canopy habitat was designed to be entirely arboreal, mimicking the layers of the rainforest.

It includes:
✔ Two main habitats with live trees and canopy climbers.
✔ Over 2km of aerial pathways—20-25 meters high.
✔ Curved, soft-edged steel structures designed to blend into the landscape.

We studied orangutan behavior, collaborated globally, and used biomimicry to create something world-class.

And it’s working—zoos around the world are now asking for our plans!

The Sumatran Ranger Project

Brianne: Let’s shift gears—tell me about the Sumatran Ranger Project.

Amy: I started it after working in ecotourism and seeing firsthand how communities struggled with human-wildlife conflict.

Our work:
✔ Patrolling the forest border to remove snares.
✔ Building predator-proof livestock enclosures to stop tigers attacking cattle.
✔ Supporting communities—renovating schools, building bathrooms, and funding sustainable farming alternatives.

Our goal? Protect wildlife while helping local people thrive.

Funding & Conservation Travel

Brianne: How do you fund this?

Amy: Grants. And it’s a nightmare. We need about $100,000 a year—which is nothing in corporate terms.

I’d love a corporate sponsor, but I don’t have the right connections.

Brianne: We should talk.

Palm Oil: The Hard Truth

Brianne: Let’s talk palm oil.

You’ve seen the damage firsthand—what’s the reality?

Amy: Indonesia and Malaysia produce 85% of the world’s palm oil. Flying in, all you see is palm plantations for miles.

Palm oil is efficient—but it has devastating impacts:
✔ Deforestation
✔ Biodiversity loss
✔ Human rights abuses

But boycotting isn’t the answer—it’s about making the industry better.

Auckland Zoo helped develop Palm Oil Scan—an app that rates products based on sustainability. Consumers can scan barcodes, check palm oil use, and send feedback to brands.

We’ll put the app link in the show notes!

Final Question: Supreme Overlord of the World—What’s Your First Move?

Amy: Save orangutan habitat.

Because that would also:
✔ Protect countless other species.
✔ Support local communities.
✔ Tackle issues like poverty and corruption.

But fixing one thing means fixing everything—so it’s a big wish list!

Final Thoughts

Brianne: Amy, thank you! You do more than most people I’ve ever met. You’re incredible.

This was such a fascinating chat, and I’ll definitely have Amy back to talk more about palm oil.

Next week—a deep dive into the cosmetics industry. It’s not pretty.

Kia ora, and see you next time!