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Environment

Group Hands Out 'Endangered Species Condoms'

A picture of one of the endangered species condoms being handed out by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Center for Biological Diversity
A picture of one of the endangered species condoms being handed out by the Center for Biological Diversity.

More than 3,000 volunteers with the Center for Biological Diversity will be handing out 100,000 free condoms beginning on Valentines Day.

The environmental group says the "endangered species condoms" are intended to raise awareness about the human impact on wildlife.

The Center for Biological Diversity says the volunteers will distribute the condoms in all 50 states.

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Randy Serraglio with the Center for Biological Diversity says volunteers with be handing out the condoms in San Diego and throughout California.

"This is an educational campaign to highlight the devastating impacts on wildlife and the environment in general through overpopulation, through unsustainable human population growth," said Serraglio.

"All of the major threats to the earth's biodiversity - sprawl, logging, mining, dams, pollution, and climate change - are driven by human overpopulation," he added. "Our Endangered Species Condoms are designed to capture people's attention, get them laughing, and get them talking about the impact of overpopulation on our small and fragile planet."

Six different packages with original artwork and edgy slogans feature the polar bear ("Wrap with care, save the polar bear"), jaguar, American burying beetle, snail darter, coquí guajón rock frog, and spotted owl.

All six species are listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Serraglio said the Endangered Species Condoms will be distributed in bars, supermarkets, schools, concerts, parties, and other public events by grandmothers, college students, university professors, health care providers, ministers, rock bands, and people from all walks of life.

"We've been overwhelmed with volunteers," said Serraglio. "We expected 100, but got more than 3,000 in just a month. The demand far exceeded our first run of 100,000 condoms. We'll be producing another 100,000 as soon as the first batch hits the streets."

He said the human population stands at 6.8 billion and is projected to reach at least 9 billion by 2050.

"Without universal access to free birth control and engaging public education about the serious consequences of overpopulation, the global population could reach 15 billion by mid-century," said Serraglio. "The Earth simply can't sustain that many people and provide a high-quality life for all species, including humans."

He said the United States has the highest population growth of any developed nation and should take the lead in promoting policies that will stabilize global population.