Zink Joins The Nature Conservancy Board; Supports Butterfly Project

Indianapolis/Gary, IN- Wayne Zink, owner and president of Endangered Species Chocolate, has joined the board of directors of The Nature Conservancy in Indiana. This role enables Zink to further support the mission of Endangered Species Chocolate by actively participating in conservation efforts in the company's home state.

In addition to board membership, Zink and Back Home Again Foundation opted to financially support Hope Takes Flight, a project reintroducing Karner Blue Butterflies to their native habitat in northwestern Indiana. The Karner Blue Butterfly is on the federal endangered list with habitat loss and fragmentation being the main culprit for their decline.

In 2006 The Nature Conservancy started a five-year initiative to restore the Karner Blue's habitat, including planting thousands of lupines (the butterfly's host plant), restoring 16 acres of oak savanna and releasing at least 1,250 butterflies. Zink's four-year financial commitment helps satisfy The Nature Conservancy's obligation to match a federal grant to save the species.

Zink and two other representatives from Endangered Species Chocolate visited the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education in Gary, IN during the last Nature Conservancy board meeting. There they learned about the lifecycle of the KarnerBlue; witnessing females producing larvae, butterflies snacking on lupine (photos available), and spiders, the butterfly's natural predator, attempting to move in on their territory.

The small Karner Blue Butterfly has a wingspan of approximately 1 inch with a beautiful grayish-blue pattern. The near-extinction of this tiny winged species is an indicator of a much larger problem: the deterioration of oak savannas. Hope Takes Flight ensures the survival of many other important species that cohabitate in this ecosystem.

Endangered Species Chocolate has an organic dark chocolate bar and organic dark chocolate single serving bag featuring the Karner Blue Butterfly. Choosing this all-natural brand of chocolate is one way to help support species and their habitats. The Nature Conservancy, and other Indiana-based conservation organizations, use the Karner Blue Butterfly organic dark chocolate bar to spread awareness about their programs.

About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is an international non-profit conservation organization funded primarily by private donations. Their mission is to protect the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.

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About Endangered Species Chocolate
Indianapolis-based Endangered Species Chocolate is fully committed to providing premium, all-natural ethically traded, naturally shade-grown, and kosher products, as well as products that are certified vegan and organic. To honor its core value – Reverence for Life – ESC confirms that all beans used in its products are purchased from small, family-owned properties where the income benefits the community. The company also donates 10-percent of net profits to help support species, habitat and humanity. The number one best selling brand of natural and organic chocolate in the natural food category, ESC offers more than 30 products.

For more information, please visit www.chocolatebar.com.