Gorillas on the Line: Answer the Call

February 1, 2019

Recycle your phone and help save gorillas

Are you about to get a new smartphone, tablet or computer? What are you going to do with the electronic device that you no longer need? Don’t just throw it away—recycle it at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo! Recycling old mobile phones helps reduce the demand for coltan and protects gorilla habitat in Africa.  

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is participating in a mobile phone recycling challenge called Gorillas on the Line…Answer the Call! February 1 through April 30, 2019, Happy Hollow will work with other conservation organizations to collect 10,000 mobile phones and engage 10,000 children and community members to help save gorillas! In addition to the mobile phones, Happy Hollow will also be accept tablets, cameras and chargers.

How does recycling your device help gorillas?
Deep in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the search for a rare mineral called coltan (columbute and tantalum) is happening every day. This mineral is an important component found in phones and other small electronics, used to make them run faster and longer.  Roughly 80% of the world’s supply of coltan is found in prime gorilla habitat. The best way to lessen the demand on brand new cell phones or getting upgrades as soon as it becomes available, we can save the lives and habitats of gorillas throughout Africa.
Questions? Contact our conservation team at [email protected]