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CONSERVATION

What can you do with your junky old cell phone and all its accessories? Help save gorillas by recycling your cell phone at the zoo! All you have to do is drop off your old cell phone, battery, charger, etc. at the entrance of the zoo, regardless of whether you decide to stay and visit that day or not. Members of the Birmingham Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) will do the dirty work of collecting all the phones and sending them to Eco-Cell to be recycled.

How does recycling a cell phone help gorillas?

1. A portion of the proceeds made from turning in cell phones is donated to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (www.gorillafund.org). Founded in 1978, the DFGFI supports conservation of both gorillas and their habitat through research, anti-poaching, education, and support of local communities in Africa.

2. Reusing old cell phones reduces the amount of coltan being mined. Coltan, short for columbite-tantalite, is an ore that is commonly used in mobile phones, computers and other micro-electrical circuits. It is found in only a few places in the world, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (also known as home to gorillas) is one of them.
Why do gorillas need help?

Gorillas are considered critically endangered—there are only an estimated 700 mountain gorillas left in the wild, total! They are threatened by habitat destruction as a result of coltan mining and agriculture. Gorillas are also dwindling in numbers due to poaching, political unrest, and diseases that can spread from humans to gorillas.

What is Eco-Cell?

Eco-Cell is an environmentally conscious company that focuses on recycling cell phones. They have a strict “NO Landfill” policy and find a way to reuse a phone in parts if it is very outdated and unable to be recycled as is.

How can you donate your old cell phone?

Drop it off at the Birmingham Zoo in our Eco-cell drop box located near the front gate.