Why Are We Partnering With Conservation To Save Our Endangered Species?

Do you ever just stop and think about what we would feel like if we realised we were too late. Too late to protect another endangered species? Sometimes it might feel like we don’t deserve the incredible and breathtaking wildlife we have on this planet. What did they do to deserve poaching or habitat loss?

The worst part of it all is there is one common denominator when it comes to depleting wildlife… us.

We have lost 50% of our wildlife on earth over the last 40 years.

That statistic you have just read is shocking and yes most of us don’t contribute directly to this but we can all do something to help.

That is why we decided to launch The SoleMate Project.

We are working closely with conservation organizations around the world and with your help we stand a huge chance of protecting the vulnerable and endangered animals for years to come.

At Ocean Sole, we have been picking up the millions of flip flops that end up on our Kenyan beaches and waterways every year. We transform the flip flop pollution into beautiful art and believe our endangered and vulnerable species will bring attention to multi-generations about the plight of these species and our Oceans.

We launch The SoleMate Project launching EIGHT species whose status runs from endangered to vulnerable.

The Giant Panda: Status – Vulnerable.

• Population – 1,864 in the wild

Illegal poaching and habitat loss caused by humans will bring the panda species to its end. If we don’t protect China’s wild giant panda they will be extinct by 2050. According to WWF Pandas have finally made it off the endangered list, however are still very vulnerable.

We are partnering with Panda International, a  conservation charity dedicated to protecting wild Pandas. The mission of Pandas International, a nonprofit organization, is to ensure the preservation and propagation of the endangered Giant Panda.

The Jaguar: Status – Near Threatened

• Population – 170,000 in the wild

The jaguar is fighting for its habitat. 200,000 acres of rainforest is cut and burned every day. If we don’t act now, the jaguar won’t have a home by 2064. Jaguars are one of the most elusive animals in the world. This makes tracking and protecting a harder job than usual.

We have teamed up with Rewilding Argentina a charity based in South America who protects a number of species in its breathtaking topography.

“Rewilding brings back nature, brings well-being to local communities and, above all, brings joy to our souls.”  Richard Preston 

The Hawksbill Turtle: Status – Endangered

• Population – 83,000 to 75,000

1,000 turtles die from ingesting plastic alone. This number does not include turtles that die from fishing gear. Help save the sea turtle. There are only 5 populations left in the wild of Hawksbill turtles.

The SoleMate Project is partnering with Local Ocean Trust a Kenyan based conservation organisation that we hope to work closely with in the protection of all sea turtles. The Local Ocean Trust encourages the sustainable use and management of marine resources for future generations through empowerment, education and campaigning.

The Polar Bear: Status – Vulnerable

• Population – 22,000-31,000

If we don’t reduce greenhouse emissions and tackle climate change the Polar bear population will decline by one third in the next 30 years.

We have partnered with Polar Bears International who in leaders in polar bear research, they are committed to using scientific and technological resources to educate people around the world and inspire them to make lasting change. 

The Pangolin: Status – Critically Endangered

• Population – 22,000-31,000

Over 300 pangolins are taken from the wild everyday, they are one of the most heavily trafficked wild mammals in the world. The pangolin’s greatest threat is poaching.

The SoleMate Project has chosen to partner with Save Pangolin. All eight species of pangolins are threatened with extinction. More than 1 million pangolins have been trafficked in the last decade.

The Mountain Gorilla: Status – Endangered

• Population – More than 1,000

With just over 1,000 Gorillas left in the wild, it is up to us now more than ever to protect them from poaching and depleting habitats.

We have teamed up with Virunga National Park, a conservation organization located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Virunga National Park is Africa’s most biodiverse protected area. It exists to protect 1/3 of the world’s wild mountain gorillas, over one thousand species of mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian, and provide a brighter future to more than four million people affected by conflict.

The Giraffe: Status – Vulnerable

• Population – Approximately 68,000 in the wild

It is estimated the giraffe population is declining by 40% each decade. Giraffes are severely threatened by illegal poaching. We need to act now before it is too late.

We have partnered with The Giraffe Conservation Foundation to help their amazing efforts in protecting Giraffes around Africa. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) is the only NGO in the world that concentrates solely on the conservation and management of giraffes in the wild throughout Africa.

Northern White Rhino “Sudan”: Status – Critically Endangered

• Population – 2

The lives of the last two Northern White Rhinos lie in our hands.

We have teamed up with Ol Pejeta, a conservancy in the North of Kenya that we have previously worked with and supported in the past. Ol Pejeta also happens to be where the last two Northern White Rhinos are left.

Ol Pejeta believe in “Innovative, tangible, sustainable conservation for wildlife and people”

Making Wildlife Art, Not Killing Wildlife