Kelsey Schroeder- Padre Island Mug

Handmade ceramic mug featuring hand sculpted Kemp's Ridley sea turtle and landscape scene inspired by Padre Island National Seashore. Approximately 16 oz

This collection was inspired by national parks in the US and endangered species that are protected by those parks.  The national parks provide crucial conservation efforts for numerous species of animals and plants through habitat protection, recovery and reintroduction programs, and scientific research for further protection efforts. Protecting the species within the parks not only preserves them for future generations, but also helps to maintain the overall health and long term resiliency of the parks' ecosystems.  

The Kemp's ridley sea turtle is the most endangered species of sea turtle in the world, as well as the smallest. This turtle is also unique in their distribution throughout the Atlantic ocean.  Adults live almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico while juveniles can be found migrating along the coastal waters of the eastern US. Egg harvesting and poaching once depleted these turtles' population, but modern threats like habitat loss, pollution, and entanglement in fishing nets are continuing to further endanger this species.  In 2007 officials found a record number of 128 nests on Texas beaches, including 81 on North Padre Island in the national seashore protected area.  Since then, conservation efforts have continued and in 2017 a record number of 383 nests were documented on the Texas coast. Without the protected areas like this national seashore where turtles continue to return to breed each year, we may not be able to save this species.  Each species is crucial to the balance of these most beautiful places and it is up to us to be sure they are protected. 

50% of the proceeds from this mug will be donated to the National Parks Foundation to help their conservation efforts and preservation of the sacred places that make up our national parks.  To learn more about their work please visit www.nationalparks.org

To see more of Kelsey's creations be sure to follow her on Instagram @kelseyceramics

All materials used are food safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe.  However, to best protect the fine details I recommend hand washing.