Recycle Your Phone for the Good of the Planet!

We live in a day and age now where mobile phones and other such devices are necessary tools. And they are tools that we replace quite frequently.

What do you do with your old mobile phone when you upgrade?

Did you know that mobile phones contain a metal called coltan? It is often illegally mined in Africa, due to the demand for this precious metal. This is causing destruction of habitat, unrest between peoples, and leads to a decline in the Chimpanzee and Gorilla populations.

If you recycle your phone, rather than throw it away, or leave it forgotten in the back of a cupboard, then less coltan will need to be mined, slowing down the destruction and giving these beautiful creatures a greater chance of surviving into the future.

So, if you are interested, please, check out Jane Goodall's page on the issue, to find out what you can do!

Thank you!

Becky.

Taronga Zoo Zoo Friends

Well, hello there!

Today I thought I would tell you a little bit about the Zoo Friends program at Taronga Zoo.

Essentially, if you plan on visiting the zoo multiple times in a year, then it may be worth investing in a Zoo Friends membership! It is very simple to do, and as long as you go to the Zoo twice or more in the year, then it will save you money!

You can buy your Zoo Friends membership online, or you can buy it in person (I think you can also apply by phone). I decided to get mine online, so that all I had to do when I went to the zoo on Sunday was go to the office, have my photo taken for the card (so that no one else can use it if I lose it or it gets stolen) and then be on my merry way!

If you do decide to apply in person, don't forget to grab a form to fill out before you line up. You can fill it out at the bench that they provide, or if you have a sturdy surface like a book, then you can fill it out while in line, saving time!

The Zoo Friends membership does actually come with many benefits for the member. Firstly, you can go to the zoo everyday, for the entire year, if you so choose. Getting in will also be faster, as you will not have to wait in line for a ticket. You will also have access year round to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, and a few other zoos around Australia.

You will be entitled to a 15% discount in the zoo shops, so buying merchandise, books, or even sunscreen if you forget your own, will become cheaper. And don't forget, that everything you buy in the shops will assist Taronga Zoo in their numerous conservation projects!

You will also receive $7 all day parking, rather than the $17 that day ticket holders must pay. And, you will receive a discount on the Roar and Snore on some nights, and of course, a one year subscription to their quarterly magazine.

So, there are many reasons to become a Zoo Friend if you enjoy animals and will be attending multiple times! There are also different Zoo Friend memberships to suit different needs. There is a family membership, an adult membership (and you can add extra adult memberships at a discounted rate, or even a guest pass), a child membership, a student membership and a pension concession membership. Each costs a different amount, so check out their website to find out how much.

I myself bought the pension concession membership. Including the initial joining fee (that you will not have to pay again if you decide to renew your membership) I paid $102.80 and I can go to the zoo as frequently as I want!

Becky.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to Wild Paws!

I love animals, and I have loved animals since a young age. I enjoy researching animal behaviour and habitats and, lets face it, lots of cute photos!

I have always felt the desire to help protect animals, but I have never felt encouraged enough to feel that I can make a difference, and with my physical health issues, working directly with animals is all but impossible.

Recently though, I have started to think that perhaps I am not completely helpless. Dr. Jane Goodall has provided a great deal of inspiration for me, and I have decided that I will do all I can.

That is part of the reason I began this blog. If I can at least share information that I have learned about all of the wonderful creatures that we share this planet with, then maybe I can help more people see that we need to do all we can to protect them!

I want this blog to be as upbeat as possible, as I am still hopeful that we can make a difference, and bring the world back from the brink. I will not share any graphic photographs here, so you do not need to worry about that.

I have recently become a Taronga Zoo zoo friend, meaning that I can go all year round, everyday if I so choose, and so, I will no doubt be sharing photographs and videos that I take with you.

I really do like to support the Taronga Conservation Society. They are making a real effort to care for the planet, rebuild habitats out in the wild, educate people about endangered species and basically make a difference for the better!

So, that is it from me for now. I hope that this blog will be a place where you can come to learn all that you can about different animals and how we can help them.

Becky.