9 September 09

More than 10,000 old mobile phones have now been collected in the campaign to assist gorilla conservation in Africa launched at Melbourne Zoo by primate expert Dr. Jane Goodall in October 2008.

The phones are being refurbished or recycled, and the funds raised are helping to pay the costs of keeping rangers in the field to protect gorillas.  The funding is being put to good use by the Jane Goodall Institute working in cooperation with the Dian Fossey International conservation organisation.

People can join the campaign by dropping off their old phones or collecting a postage-free mailing satchel on their next visit  toMelburne Zoo or by printing off a postage-free label from this website. Click Here to go there now. 

In addition to raising funds, the phone recycling campaign also aims to reduce demand for the mineral coltan, which is used in the manufacture of electronic items such as mobile phones.  Illegal mining is devastating gorilla habitat and contributing to a rapid decline in neighbouring gorilla populations, due to increased hunting of all wildlife to feed the miners and supply the bushmeat trade.

The ABC's Foreign Correspondant program covered the coltan issue in a major story  'The Congo Connection'  broadcast on Tuesday, September 8.