A set of stamps commemorating the world’s endangered species was issued last month by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA).
Issued on March 2, a day before World Wildlife Day, it was the 25th set issued by the UNPA to highlight the need for the protection of endangered species throughout the world. The set was issued in panes of 16 stamps, each of which feature four se-tenant designs. There is also a separate pane for each United Nations post office, including New York, Geneva and Vienna.
Since 1993, the series has featured plants and animals from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an agreement between governments to safeguard trade in specimens of wild animals and plants. About 5,800 species of animals and 30,000 species of plants are protected by the agreement.
The four $1.15 stamps issued for use at the United Nations’ New York City post office feature:
- a goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), a perennial herb native to southeastern Canada and the eastern U.S.;
- a red-crested turaco (Tauraco erythrolophus), a frugivorous bird endemic to Southern Africa;
- a Luristan newt (Neurergus kaiseri), a salamander from Iran; and
- an Andean hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi), which is endemic to Bolivia and northern Chile.
The four 1.50-franc stamps issued for use at the post office at Geneva’s Palais des Nations feature:
- a saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), from central Asia;
- a sesame flower (Uncarina grandidieri), from Madagascar;
- a Cuban land snail (Polymita picta); and
- a silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis).
Lastly, the 0.80-euro stamps issued for use at the post office at the Vienna International Center feature:
- a hoodia succulent (Hoodia pilifera);
- a Malagasy painted mantella (Mantella madagascariensis), which is endemic to Madagascar;
- an Assam roofed turtle (Pangshura sylhetensis), which is found in India and Bangladesh; and
- a zebra seahorse (Hippocampus zebra), which is found near Australia.
The stamps were designed by Rorie Katz using illustrations by Rhonda Nass, of the U.S., Bridgid Edwards, of the U.K., and Juan Munos, of Spain.
Each stamp measures 39.2 millimetres by 28.6 millimetres.