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Dublin Zoo Urges Public to Answer Call of the Wild
Wed 4 November 2026 - 2 min read
New Dublin Zoo research reveals almost two thirds of Irish households have at least two unused mobile phones, which could help support gorilla conservation.
Dublin Zoo is calling on people across Ireland to give their old mobile phones a new lease of life through its Call of the Wild initiative, helping to protect critically endangered gorillas and their habitats in Africa.
New research commissioned by Dublin Zoo reveals that 64% of Irish households have at least two unused mobile phones, while 11% have five or more. Despite this, 59% of people are unaware that mining for materials used in electronic devices can threaten gorillas and their habitats.
Answer the call about this
By reusing, refurbishing or recycling old phones, valuable materials can be recovered, helping to reduce demand for newly extracted resources and support wildlife conservation.
In partnership with Irish business Buyaphone.ie, Dublin Zoo is making it easy for people to trade in their unwanted devices and make a difference for wildlife, with a target of 5,000 phone trade-ins by December 2027.
Helen Clarke, Team Leader, African Plains at Dublin Zoo, said:
“Most of us have an old phone sitting forgotten in a drawer somewhere at home, and something as simple as giving that phone a second life can help support efforts to protect gorillas in the wild. We’re asking people across Ireland to answer the Call of the Wild and turn a small action into something much bigger.”
Pictured are Andrew Mooney and Helen Clarke at the Gorilla Rainforest habitat. Dublin Zoo is urging Irish households to answer the ‘Call of the Wild’ as unused phones could help to protect gorillas and their habitats in Africa. Partnering with Buyaphone.ie, Dublin Zoo is aiming to recycle 5,000 phones by December 2027 © Patrick Bolger
Through the initiative, people can receive payment for their eligible devices or choose to donate their trade-in proceeds to Dublin Zoo. Buyaphone.ie will also make a financial contribution towards gorilla conservation for every qualifying completed trade-in, at no additional cost to customers.
Ready to answer the Call of the Wild?
Will you answer the Call of the Wild and give your old smartphone a second life?
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More About The Research
Nationally representative research (1,000 respondents) conducted by 3Gem on behalf of Dublin Zoo between 25th September and 1st October 2026.
- Knowing it would help protect wildlife and habitats.
- If they received money for it.
- If they knew the materials would be reused or recycled.
- If they knew their personal data would be safely removed.
