TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity is giving thousands of free Endangered Species Condoms to colleges and universities across the country as students head back to school.
The condoms will be distributed by student reproductive rights groups, resident advisors, environmental science professors and campus health clinics.
“Students get reminders to buy textbooks to prepare for the new semester, but condoms are an essential back-to-school item, too,” said Malia Becker, population and sustainability organizer at the Center. “Access to contraception improves gender equity, student health and graduation rates. Giving away condoms is also a climate change solution. When students have free contraception, people and the planet win.”
In the past 50 years, as the human population has more than doubled and excessive consumption in wealthy countries has skyrocketed, wildlife populations have fallen by more than two-thirds. In late 2022 the global population reached 8 billion. The United Nations predicts that it will continue to grow to 8.5 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050. The United States is the world’s third-most populous country.
The colorful condom packages include species threatened by human population pressure and slogans like “Wrap with care, save the polar bear” and “When you’re feeling tender, think about the hellbender.”
“The condoms empower people to make choices about their reproductive futures and are a fun way to get conversations started about sexual health, population and biodiversity,” said Becker.
Endangered Species Condoms feature nine different endangered species and information about the pressure that human population growth puts on whales, monarch butterflies and other imperiled wildlife through fishing entanglements, pesticide use, deforestation and habitat loss. The Center has given away more than 1.5 million Endangered Species Condoms since 2009.
The Center’s population and sustainability program uses creative media to promote a range of commonsense solutions like access to family planning and reproductive health services, as well as education, opportunity and equal rights for women and girls.
