Trunkline Magazine (Louisville Zoo) March 2019 | Page 14

ZOO NEWS
Bengati
Gorillas on the line … Answer the Call!
Take part in this exciting global campaign to help save gorillas
in the wild. By bringing your old electronic devices to the Zoo for
recycling through April 30, 2019, you can help protect critical
gorilla habitat in Africa. Learn how below!
1. Be Informed
According to the EPA, more than 130 million cell phones will
go out of use each year. That’s over 65,000 tons of electronic
garbage that could end up in our landfills. Coltan, a mineral
found in phones and other small electronics, is mined from
areas where endangered gorillas live. Recycling old mobile
phones helps reduce the demand for coltan and protect gorilla
habitat in Africa. Gorillas are on the line. Join us to answer the call and
help save gorillas in the wild.
2. Recycle your electronic devices
Many of us have unused electronic devices, we hold on to them because we aren’t
quite certain where they go. Bring them to the Louisville Zoo! Just place your devices
into the donation box on the main plaza to become a part of this effort.
Accepted items: cell phones, Smartphones, iPods, iPads, tablets, adapters,
chargers, MP3 players, handheld gaming systems and the accessories that
come with them.
You can even bring your phone in on Sunday, April 17 for $1 off regular
Zoo admission as part of Party for the Planet powered by the LG&E and KU
Foundation. Learn more at LouisvilleZoo.org/ecocell
MARCH EVENTS
Tree Giveaway Day
Saturday, March 16, 9 – 11 a.m.
The Zoo is hosting Louisville Metro’s Division
of Community Forestry Tree Giveaway. The
tree giveaway will take place in the Zoo’s bus
parking lot. Jefferson county residents can receive
up to five free trees. For guidelines and more
information visit LouisvilleZoo.org/events.
World Frog Day
Sunday, March 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hop over to discover the frog species
that call our Zoo home. Learn some fun
facts about these amphibians facing high
stakes, many challenged in their home
ranges. Leap into the fun with special
activities featuring our froggy friends
and a special guest: the Frog Princess.
This event is free with Zoo admission
or membership.
14 • Louisville Zoo Trunkline • Spring 2019
ecocell
E-cycling for your cause
Did you know?
Your Zoo is a
change agent help-
ing people think beyond
their backyard. In 2001, while we were
building Gorilla Forest, the first news
story of coltan mining in the Congo
for cell phone production came out.
Humans were unwittingly causing the
decimation of many species, espe-
cially gorillas, due to this mining. We
decided we needed to tell that story at
the Zoo.
Eric Ronay, founder of Eco-Cell,
heard that story at the Louisville Zoo
which inspired him to create the first
cell phone recycling company in the
world. He partnered with your Zoo
to have a cell phone recycling box
installed. Now, Eco-Cell works with
zoos all over the country, and recycling
used phones for coltan has become
an industry standard – helping to
save wildlife. This all started with your
Louisville Zoo.