This New Year's Eve, more than 600 volunteers for the Center for Biological Diversity will be handing out Endangered Species Condoms in order to increase awareness about the destructive repercussions of overpopulation and overconsumption on both endangered species and their habitats.
The world's population has nearly doubled since the celebration of the first Earth Day in 1970. At 6.8 billion people, the human race is the most populous large mammal that has ever existed. Not only is providing for so many people putting a strain on the earth's finite resources, but it's also making it much more difficult for endangered plants and animals to survive. With humans using 50 percent of the earth's fresh water and 50 percent of the earth's land mass, many species are simply running out of places to live.
Because New Year's Eve is one of the most popular days of the year for condom use, 50,000 of the Endangered Species Condoms were sent to volunteers to hand out this Friday. There are six different packages, all containing original artwork and slogans. All six species featured on the condoms are listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Do you think the condoms are a great idea, or too over the top? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and learn more about the Center for Biological Diversity's campaign by clicking here.
(Photos/captions provided by the Center for Biological Diversity)
Polar Bear(01 of06)
Open Image ModalThe international icon of global warming, the polar bear is going extinct as the Arctic sea ice melts beneath its feet due to the greenhouse gas emissions of 6.8 billion people, especially those in high-consumption nations like the United States. The bear was put on the endangered species list in 2008.
Snail Darter(02 of06)
Open Image ModalThe snail darter lives in just nine populations in the Tennessee River drainage in eastern Tennessee. Its habitat has been severely reduced by dams constructed to provide water, power, and barge transportation to a rapidly growing human population. It was put on the endangered species list in 1975.
Spotted Owl(03 of06)
Open Image ModalThe spotted owl depends on old-growth forests, which are being cut down to supply timber, wood fiber, and toilet paper to an ever-growing human population. It was put on the endangered species list in the Northwest in 1990 and the Southwest in 1993.
American Burying Beetle(04 of06)
Open Image ModalThe large, spectacularly colored American burying beetle has disappeared from more than 90 percent of its former range due to disruption of its food chain by humans, including the human-caused decline of top predators like wolves and bears and carrion species such as passenger pigeons. The beetle was put on the endangered species list in 1989.
Jaguar(05 of06)
Open Image ModalThe largest cat in North America, the jaguar formerly roamed the borderlands of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It disappeared as human settlements spread further and further into its wilderness habitat. The U.S. population was put on the endangered species list in 1997.
Coquí Guajón Rock Frog(06 of06)
Open Image ModalThe Puerto Rico rock frog, also known as the coquí guajón, lives in caves, grottos, and streamsides in southeast Puerto Rico. It was put on the endangered species list in 1997 due to destruction of its habitat by urban sprawl and roads, garbage dumping, deforestation, and pesticide poisoning.