Saving gorillas

St Kilda Road Year 3 student, Nathan Ashdown, loves gorillas. After learning about the destruction of their habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the eight year old set out to do something about it. The endangered species habitat is being mined for Coltan, a metallic ore found in all mobile phones. Coltan can be recycled from old mobile phones, thus reducing the need for mining and helping to save the gorillas and their habitat.

In order to save his favourite animal, Nathan has established a major mobile phone recycling drive with the help of his mum. It has since become a nation-wide cause after their local Rotary club featured Nathan in the RACV magazine.

Nathan first shared his cause with his classmates at Wesley College during share time. He knew his friends would be interested because their unit of inquiry at the time was recycling.

He has since set up special recycling bags around the school, which friends and families of the College are encouraged to use.

When asked what his favourite thing about gorillas is, Nathan says it’s too hard to pick one thing, but he likes how they behave similarly to humans, and they have “great personalities”.

When he grows up Nathan thinks he would like to be “an inventor or a teacher, and continue to look after the gorillas”.

Wesley College congratulates Nathan on this wonderful achievement, and encourages all families to get involved and recycle their old mobile phones.