Media Advisory, February 12, 2019

Contact: Sarah Baillie, (520) 345-5708, sbaillie@biologicaldiversity.org

Times Square Ad, 1,000 Endangered Species Condoms to Highlight Human Population Growth's Effects on Wildlife

NEW YORK— One thousand free Endangered Species Condoms will be given away by the Center for Biological Diversity in Times Square on Thursday, Feb. 14 to help couples who are about to get wild to consider population growth's threat to wildlife.

The condoms will be distributed for Valentine’s Day by a group of volunteers and a costumed dugong. The colorful condom packages feature species threatened by population growth and slogans like “When you’re feeling tender, think about the hellbender.”

During the condom giveaway, an ad on three digital billboards will play featuring the image of a dugong and the saying “Wrap your schlong, save the dugong.” The ads will be viewable at 3 Times Square, near the Times Square/42nd Street subway station and Lyric Theatre.

The ad and condom distribution are a part of the Center’s population and sustainability program, which uses creative media to promote a range of common-sense solutions like access to family planning and reproductive health services, as well as education, opportunity and equal rights for women and girls.

Photos, video and a copy of the ad are available upon request.

What: Ad and 1,000 Endangered Species Condoms giveaway

Where: 3 Times Square, New York, NY

When: Thursday, Feb. 14, 12 to 1 p.m.

“Lovebirds will flock to Times Square on Valentine’s Day to profess their love and maybe get lucky. But wildlife will be far less fortunate as our population grows and urban sprawl destroys wild spaces,” said Sarah Baillie, Endangered Species Condoms coordinator at the Center. “The Crossroads of the World is perhaps the best example of our increasingly crowded world. We hope this ad and the Endangered Species Condoms help people understand how conscientious family planning can protect wildlife.”