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Holiday Hookup? 40,000 Free Endangered Species Condoms Given Away

With the holiday season in full swing, the Center for Biological Diversity is distributing 40,000 free Endangered Species Condoms to encourage people to invite wildlife into holiday celebrations by talking about the effects of rampant human population growth on the environment and wildlife. More babies are conceived between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day than any other time of year.

TUCSON

With the holiday season in full swing, the Center for Biological Diversity is distributing 40,000 free Endangered Species Condoms to encourage people to invite wildlife into holiday celebrations by talking about the effects of rampant human population growth on the environment and wildlife. More babies are conceived between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day than any other time of year.

"The reality is that as human population grows, we're crowding wildlife into extinction, and if we don't start addressing this soon it will be too late for many endangered species," said Leigh Moyer, the Center's population organizer. "While it may make family dinner conversation a little awkward, polar bears, sea otters and other wildlife will thank you for making their future a part of your holiday celebrations."

Five hundred volunteer distributors will be giving away condoms across the country at holiday parties, in stockings and at New Year's Eve celebrations in an effort to invite wildlife to the festivities.

More than 227,000 people are added to the global population every day, and scientists agree that we are in the midst of the planet's sixth mass wildlife extinction. While previous extinction periods were driven by geological or cosmic factors, the current crisis is caused by human activity.

In addition to giving away free condoms, the Center will be sharing quick and easy steps individuals can take to reduce their environmental footprint at home, like turning down the heat and bundling up instead, or trading holiday lights for more sustainable decorations to green the holiday season. Tips will be posted on social media using the hashtag #InviteWildlife.

"The holidays should be merry and bright, but that doesn't mean that we can ignore the impact human activities have on wildlife," said Moyer. "Luckily, making some small changes like practicing safe sex and putting plant-based foods at the center of your holiday table can really help wildlife."

The Center's population and sustainability program promotes a range of solutions, including universal access to birth control and family planning, as well as education and empowerment of women and girls. The Center has also given away more than 600,000 Endangered Species Condoms since 2009.

At the Center for Biological Diversity, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive.

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