It’s tempting to switch your old mobile phone whenever a new model arrives.
So, Kyabram Fauna Park is now providing a sustainable and responsible way to dispose of ditched devices.
Zoos Victoria community conservation campaigner Peter Lancaster said funds raised through the recycling and repurposing of donated mobile devices went towards the life-saving medical care of fragile, wild gorilla populations in Africa.
“Every mobile phone collected by Zoos Victoria helps generate funds to support the work of (conservation group) Gorilla Doctors,” Mr Lancaster said.
“We’ve managed to collect more than 180,000 mobile phones since the campaign launched in 2009, and that’s raised just over $300,000 for gorilla conservation.”
There are four sub-species of gorillas native to Africa.
All are impacted by illegal poaching and habitat destruction from logging and mining of coltan, a metallic ore mineral used in most mobile devices and other electronic devices.
“The best thing you can do is use your phone, or any technological device, for as long as possible,” Mr Lancaster said.
“When you do need a new phone, you can help wild gorillas by recycling your old phone through Zoos Victoria’s They’re Calling On You program.”
Visitors to Kyabram Fauna Park can drop off their old mobile phones in a specially designed collection bin in the park’s café.
For more information about Zoos Victoria’s They’re Calling On You initiative, visit zoo.org.au/phone