They wanna be like you-hoo - mobile phone recycling to help save apes

A MOBILE phone recycling scheme has been launched by Twycross Zoo in a bid to help save endangered great apes.

The zoo is particularly keen to protect bonobos which are under threat from habitat loss in their native Democratic Republic of Congo. Twycross is the only zoo in the UK to host bonobos.

One aspect of the problem is unregulated coltan mining, which when refined is used to make capacitors for electronic devices including mobile phones.

In the Congo it is often mined in conditions of human rights abuses and as the world’s demand for the mineral increases, there is little regard for the impact extensive mining has on the environment and wildlife.

It is estimated that between 65-80% of the world’s coltan reserves are found in biodiversity rich areas in the Congo, which is also home to bonobos, our closest living relatives.

Bonobo numbers have declined over the past 30 years and continue to do so. Coltan is, however, easily recyclable so Twycross has partnered with Clover Environmental Solutions which provides collection programmes for used mobile phones and other small electronic devices to set up a permanent recycling container on site.

Dr Zanna Clay, research expert and conservationist for bonobos said: “Unsustainable and unregulated mining of coltan poses a direct threat on the surrounding forest ecosystems in Congo, an area rich in biodiversity and home to thousands of endemic species, which includes bonobos and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives.

“Without effective regulation in place, coltan mines have become a hotbed of human rights violation, including largescale levels of child slavery and horrendous working conditions. By recycling your mobile phone, you are helping to support the fight against these human rights violation, as well as reducing the high-demand for a mineral which is degrading the natural richness of Congo as we speak.”