African Gorillas Recycle Cell Phones: Eco-Cell Helps Save Lowland Gorillas in the DRC
Almost nine in ten Americans or 89% use the cell phone, and this can translate into lots of “junk” that needs throwing away, because the average American is not known to own a handset for more than two years at least.
And according to a survey just released, only 40% of the US population actually recycle their cell phones while another 10% simply toss them into the bin while singing away…
But recycling your old cell phone could also be more than a green thing to do. You could be saving the highly endangered and rare Eastern lowland gorillas, also called Grauer’s gorillas.
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The good news is that your phone will not be dumped in some poor, third world country for the bucks alone, but it will be refurbished and sold, with the proceeds going to paying eco-guards involved in gorilla conservation, and who protect the hapless animals from the bullets.
This band of eco-guards are doing a good job defending the gorilla population against rebel armies and poachers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it possible for the endangered animals to survive - and even to increase their numbers.
The eco-guards are not just forest sentries in some research project - they double up as community educators with the responsibility of spreading the message that hunting endangered lowland gorilla species is also a serious environmental hazard! Digging large forest areas for precious metals destroys the natural habitat of the apes.
We all understand that recycling can save energy and valuable resources, including the mining of precious metals and the manufacturing of new plastics. In Democratic Republic of Congo, the Eastern lowland gorilla lives deep in the bush where heavily armed militias patrol in search of wealth and resources to fuel their senseless and unending war, and only under 200 of them remain.
Coltan also called colombite-tantalite is a little-known, highly priced tarry black mineral contained in cell phones, laptops and video-game machines but the main attraction for the Congolese rebels and defines the dangerous ecology and habitat of these gorillas.
And that’s what links your prized cell phone to the plight of these apes. Michael Green, of the Santa Barbara Zoo, says: “Cell phones are directly leading to illegal activities that are harming gorilla populations.” Talk of a case of pay back time.
Aside from a separate joint effort by Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo to save the mountain gorilla (only about 700 of them remain) in the jungle hinterland that the three eastern Africa nations share, notably the Virunga hills, conservationists believe more should be done.
The nonprofit organization Eco-Cell collects and refurbishes these old cell phones for resale in a project that also involves Santa Barbara Zoo and other American zoos.
Photo Credit: Flickr
