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February 5, 2006

Recycle Your Mobile Phone: The Gorillas Will Thank You

Here we have yet another example of how something so seemingly trivial as buying a new cell phone can have long-reaching effects on an endangered species. By perpetuating the demand for a certain metallic ore used in your phone, you are negatively impacting the dwindling gorilla populations of the DRC (Congo).

You might have noticed lately that lots of non-profit organizations are doing cell phone recycling drives. Working phones are often given to displaced families, people who live in shelters, and other good causes. But its just as important to recycle your non-functional phones.

Here's why:

Cell phones contain all sorts of hazardous materials like lead and arsenic - materials that should not be put into landfills or get into our ground water. Just like your used motor oil, cell phones require special recycling.

One important mineral used by mobile phones is called Columbite-tantalite (coltan). Coltan is found only in central Africa in streams that run where the endangered lowland gorilla lives. It is mined by hand, often illegally in the protected wildlife refuges.

Fueled by the worldwide cell phone boom, Congo's out-of-control coltan mining business has in recent years led to a dramatic reduction of animal habitat and the rampant slaughter of great apes for the illegal bush-meat trade.

"Most people don't know that there's a connection between this metal in their cell phones and the well-being of wildlife in the area where it's mined," said Karen Killmar, the associate curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo.

"Recycling old cell phones is a way for people to do something very simple that could reduce the need for additional coltan … and help protect the gorillas," she said.

...

The San Diego Zoo is among 46 zoos that have joined the recycling program.

More At: National Geographic: Phone Recycling Help African Gorillas?

The miners working along these streams do not just destroy the native habitat of the gorilla, they also may come in contact with the animals themselves. The bushmeat trade of the DRC is a very serious threat to the species. The temptation of poaching a gorilla for food or protit is often too great when ones family is starving and the punishment lax.

Find out more about San Diego Zoo's phone recycling program at their website.

Posted by sorsha at February 5, 2006 10:00 PM