In this interview, Emily Gregg from Zoos Victoria’s Conservation Campaigns team and Owen Jones from PhoneCycle discuss the They’re Calling On You initiative — a community campaign that has been running for over 16 years.

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The video explains the link between mobile phones and gorilla conservation, how coltan mining threatens habitats, and how donating retired devices supports both the environment and Gorilla Doctors — vets on the frontline caring for wild gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

So far, the campaign has:

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• Collected nearly 194,000 phones

• Raised $324,000 for gorilla care

• Saved around 135 tonnes of mineral resources from landfill
   

Watch the conversation to see how businesses and individuals can make a real difference through reuse, repair, and responsible recycling.

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Join Us at Melbourne Zoo

We’re hosting a special Breakfast at the Zoo in November — right by the gorilla enclosure. Hear the story firsthand, meet the team, and pledge your devices to help protect wild gorillas.

📩 To request an invite: collections@phonecycle.com.au