Vans and Ralph Steadman join forces for a collection of footwear and apparel that highlights near extinct
animals from around the world. The collection is pulled from three books illustrated by Ralph Steadman
and written by Ceri Levy, offering an artful, original, and expressive way of bringing awareness and much-needed
attention to threatened species.
SELECT AN ANIMAL BELOW TO LEARN ABOUT THE THREATS THEY FACE.
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Less than 2,500 mature Grevy’s zebra remain in the wild in Ethiopia, Kenya, and possibly South Sudan.
Lack of food sources, habitat loss, and illegal hunting are the major factors in their decline.
Involving local communities in a conservation program will help this striped beauty roam across
Africa in larger numbers once more.
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There are African lions and Asiatic lions. The former’s population has dwindled from 450,000 in the
1940s to as low as 20,000 today. A single population of 500 Asiatic lions clings to life in the
Indian state of Gujarat. Conflict between man and lion is the main threat, and trophy hunting is
also an issue. Why kill such majestic creatures? We need a healthier relationship with this big
cat.
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Lemur Leaf Frog
Found in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama, the Lemur leaf frog population has fallen drastically
by more than 80%. Habitat loss and possibly a fungal disease are the main culprits, and research
is ongoing to ascertain the definite issues and potential remedies. Captive breeding programs are
underway to help the frog bounce back.
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Garden Bumblebee
Two hundred seventy-five species of bees exist in the world, making honey and pollinating crops throughout
the world. Threatened by the loss of wildflowers and the damage done by the use of pesticides (such
as neonicotinoids) their numbers are dwindling, and soon the buzz may be missing from a summer’s
day. You can help by planting wildflowers that appeal to the bees.
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Orangutan
In the threatened rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra orangutan numbers have plummeted from more than
300,000 to about 70,000. Often considered pests that destroy crops, adults are regularly killed,
leaving orphaned infants which end up either in the pet trade or, with luck, a rehabilitation center.
Much of their homeland has been cleared for palm oil production, and the remaining forests need
24-hour protection to stop the first great ape extinction.
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Western European Hedgehog
In the 1950s it was estimated that there were 30 million hedgehogs in the UK . . . but now there
are likely less than a million. Habitat loss in both urban and rural areas is the main problem.
The hedgehog has been on Earth for more than 15 million years, surviving everything this world
has thrown at it. The 21st century, however, is proving to be its spikiest test yet.
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The fin whale population is believed to have decreased by 70% over the last three generations. Habitat
loss, toxins, climate change (yes folks, it exists), and especially commercial whaling have all
been causes of this magnificent creature’s downfall. People must lose their taste for whale meat.
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Three species of bluefin tuna exist: Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern. But only one story exists for
all three—overfishing. In the last 100 years the population of the Pacific bluefin tuna has been
depleted by 96%. In 2017, a 467-lb. (212 kg) bluefin sold for a whopping $636,000! This over-the-top
craving for tuna has led to illegal fishing, which is believed to be worth up to $23 billion a year.
Time to change the menu.
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Download a social avatar to share the story of the Blue-Finned Tuna.
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Monarch Butterfly
The monarch butterfly annually migrates thousands of miles from Canada to Mexico. This is all the
more extraordinary as its average adult lifespan is five weeks and the journey may take up to eight
weeks. Somehow they survive. Illegal logging has destroyed significant amounts of its Mexican hibernation
habitat, but the creation of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve by the Mexican government
is working well in protecting this monarch of migration from further harm.
