Smart recycling at the Prague Zoo: Old mobile phones save forests and animals
The project “Bring an old mobile phone and support the guardians of the forest” has been operating in the Prague Zoo since 2010. “By collecting and recycling old phones or tablets, we are jointly supporting the fight against poaching and the development of a responsible approach by local people to gorillas and the rainforest.” presents Pavlína Sporková, coordinator of the Smart Recycling project.
In addition, the recycling of cobalt or tantalum, a precious metal in old mobile phones, reduces the need for its extraction. In Africa, it has a negative impact on the tropical rainforest with gorillas. In total, thanks to visitors to the zoo, 80,000 mobile phones and tablets have been selected.
REMA Systém, one of the founders of the Smart Recycling educational project, moreover earnings of the Prague Zoo from each handed over mobile phone or tablet in the amount of 10 crowns. The money goes to the zoo’s special collection account. Other Czech zoos and safaris will also join the project during the year – for example Safari Park Dvůr Králové, Zoo Brno or Zoo Ostrava.
Motorcycles and Stray Bus
And how does the project help where it is most needed, in the jungles? No longer need to provide the guards of the Dja Biosphere Reserve in Cameroon with equipment, or help the guards of Campo Ma’an Park in Cameroon buy new motorcycles.
The core business of the project is the Wandering Bus. The children get in the car and travel around Africa for several days as part of an environmental education program. They learn about the threats of poaching and get acquainted with the tropical rainforest and the animals in which they live.
Little travelers will also visit the Kabilone Environmental Education Center, where they will walk a nature trail through the tropical rainforest and they will learn, for example, how to grow crops in an environmentally friendly way. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the rescue station for primates Méfou, where they will see gorillas with their own eyes.
“In Cameroon, a stray bus transports children from the jungle areas to Méfou to complete an educational program at the rescue station there, but especially they saw gorillas not only as meat on a plate, but as fascinating living creatures, “ adds Miroslav Bobek, director of the Prague Zoo. Since 2013, when the Wandering Bus, run by the Prague Zoo, started for the first time, it has already had 70 rides and over 1,300 children with teachers and parents have ridden in it.
Zoo: History of gorilla breeding Videohub
Collection boxes are located at the main entrance to the Zoo
Author: Prague Zoo