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Monday 17 May 2021

1843) "Endangered National Wildlife", Croatia: EUROPA - 2021: Hrvatska posta (Croatian Post) has issued two Postage Stamps featuring Critically Endangered National Wildlife - The Eurasian Lynx ("Lynx lynx") of 15.00 HRK and the Western Capercaillie ("Tetrao urogallus") of 3.30 HRK: Date of Stamp set issue: 07.05.2021:

1843) "Endangered National Wildlife", Croatia: EUROPA - 2021: Hrvatska posta (Croatian Post) has issued two Postage Stamps featuring Critically Endangered National Wildlife - The Eurasian Lynx  ("Lynx lynx") of 15.00 HRK and the Western Capercaillie ("Tetrao urogallus") of 3.30 HRK: Date of Stamp set issue: 07.05.2021:

About Europa 2021 - Stamps:

EUROPA Stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations. 

They bear the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme. 

EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world and have been issued for over 60 years.

Every year a new theme is assigned by PostEurop and all participating countries issue stamps with their own interpretation of the theme. The theme for 2021 is "Endangered National Wildlife"

More about EUROPA Postage Stamps:

EUROPA Postage stamps (also known as Europa - CEPT - European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations - until 1992) are special stamps issued by European Postal Administrations/Enterprises and bears the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.

EUROPA stamps underline cooperation in the posts domain, aimed at promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.

As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.

Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer integration and co-operation.

In 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps.

When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues. The CEPT logo was replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop i.e. the word "EUROPA" leaning towards the right hand side.

Each year, PostEurop's "Stamps & Philately Group" selects the EUROPA stamp theme:

1993 - Contemporary Art

1994 - Great Discoveries

1995 - Peace and Freedom

1996 - Famous women

1997 - Tales and legends

1998 - Festivals and National Celebrations

1999 - Nature Reserves and Parks

2000 - Common Design. Tower of 6 stars

2001 - Water - Treasure of Nature

2002 - The Circus

2003 - Poster Art

2004 - Holidays

2005 - Gastronomy

2006 - Integration through the eyes of Young People

2007 - Scout Centenary

2008 - Writing Letters

2009 - Astronomy

2010 - Children Books

2011 - Forests - International Year of Forests

2012 - Visit …. (for instance "Visit Finland" etc.)

2013 - Van of the Postman - Postal vehicles 

2014 - Musical instruments - National musical instruments

2015 - Old Toys

2016 - Ecology in Europe - "Think Green". Common Design

2017 - Castles

2018 - Bridges

2019 - National Birds

2020 - Ancient Postal Routes

2021 - Endangered National Wildlife

2022 - the theme will be "Stories & Myths". 

About Europa 2021 - "Endangered National Wildlife Stamps issued by Hrvatska posta (Croatian Post):

This year’s PostEurop stamp theme is ‘Endangered National Wildlife’, and Hrvatska posta has depicted two species which are identified under this category.

These beautiful stamps feature species that are locally registered from "Critically Endangered" through to "Near Threatened".

The EUROPA Stamps issued by Hrvatska posta (Croatian Post) features the Eurasian Lynx ("Lynx lynx") and Western Capercaillie ("Tetrao urogallus"):

The Eurasian Lynx ("Lynx lynx") - (Stamp value- 15.00 HRK):

The Eurasian Lynx is the largest European cat. It is one of the most widely distributed cat species, thus it is classified by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), as of "Least Concern" (LC). 

In Croatia it can be found in Gorski kotar, Velebit and Lika. According to the latest official estimate from 2010, there are 40 to 60 individuals living in Croatia, with a declining trend, as such,  the Lynx is a highly endangered and strictly protected species. The major causes of endangerment are inbreeding, habitat destruction and fragmentation and poaching.

Their hind legs are longer than the front legs. Like all cats, lynx species too can retract their claws when walking. They have excellent night vision, a well-developed sense of smell and extremely good hearing and hunt alone by quietly stalking and pouncing on their prey. 

During the summer, they have a relatively short, reddish or brown coat interspersed with darker spots unique to each individual. In winter, they get a thick, long and silky greyish fur. 

During the winter their large paws act like snowshoes in deep snow. 

They live alone and do not stay for long in the same location except during the mating season, which is at the beginning of the year. Females give birth to two or three cubs. 

In order to survive, they need a spacious and peaceful, mostly forest habitat, which provides both shelter and food. 

In Croatia, the most important prey species for lynx are roe deer and young deer, but also chamois, mouflons, rabbits, rodents, birds and snakes. They mostly rest during the day and night and become active in the mornings and evenings.

The Autochthonous Lynx from Croatia disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century, and the entire present-day population originates from six individuals brought to Slovenia from Slovakia back in 1973. 

The population began to decline again in the 1990s, and genetics have shown that it is mainly due to inbreeding.

 Therefore, the "LIFE Project" of introducing Lynx from Romania and Slovakia to Croatia and Slovenia is currently underway in order to enrich the gene pool and increase the existing population, as well as to connect the Alpine and Dinaric populations. The inhabited animals and their offspring are tracked using camera traps and GPS collars.
                          

WESTERN CAPERCAILLIE ("Tetrao urogallus") - (Stamp value: 3.30 HRK):

The Western Capercaillie ("Tetrao urogallus") is Croatia's largest forest bird that originates from the Ice Age.

 In Croatia, they live on Velebit and in Gorski Kotar, in mixed and coniferous forests on mountain peaks reaching 1000 meters above sea level and higher, where they find shelter on the branches of old trees and an abundance of food. 

Globally, due to its large range, capercaillies are assessed as being of Least Concern, but their numbers are declining due to climate change, habitat loss and changes in habitat conditions, tourism, collisions of young birds with power lines and too many predators such as foxes, martens, crows as well as poaching. 

Due to its declining population, the Capercaillie is strictly protected in Croatia and is considered an endangered species. 

Only a dozen out of the former 177 leks in the country are active, and there are just over a hundred singing males. (A courtship ground called a "lek" or an arena is where mating occurs after which they diverge". 

In the spring, at dawn, the male performs a courtship display at this open space by "singing" (different types of vocalisations - "clicking" and "scraping"), spreading his fan-like tail and extending his “beard”, and becomes careless.

They feed on buds, young pine needles, seeds, forest fruits and berries, and for the young, food of animal origin - insects, snails, and even small vertebrates - is also important.

 They typically weigh about five kilograms and range up to 85 cm in length. The males have gorgeous feathers: green chest, brown back, and a black head, neck and belly. Capercaillie females have inconspicuous reddish and grey feathers with black stripes.

 Their legs are feathered all the way to the toes (in winter it is extremely long). 

Each fall the chainmail-like scales on their feet give way to tiny bristly projections called pectinations that increase each foot’s surface area, making it easier for them to navigate in snow. In summer the pectinations fall off. 

Strong, blunt nails are used to dig food out of the ground and under snow.

First Day Cover (FDC) showing the Eurasian Lynx (value 15.00 HRK) and the Capercaillie (value 3.30 HRK) at left in their natural habitat. The FDC is titled - "EUROPA".

At top right is affixed the EUROPA Postage Stamps showing the Eurasian Lynx (value 15.00 HRK) and the Capercaillie (value 3.30 HRK) cancelled with a special Handstamp of Zagreb Post Office. The cancellation is dated - "07.05.2021".

                                    

 Full Sheets (FS) on the two Stmp variants of 20 Stamps each

Technical details:

Issue Date: 07.05.2021

Designer: Nataša Odak, designer from Zagreb

PrinterAKD d.o.o., Zagreb

Process: Offset

Colours: Multicoloured

Size: 35.50 mm x 29.82 mm

Stamp Value: HRK 15.00 and 3.30 HRK






Links:

Links to posts on "Endangered National Wildlife" on this Blog, the theme of PostEUROP "EUROPA -2021 theme:




















Links to posts on "Ancient Postal Routes" on this Blog, the theme of PostEurop "EUROPA-2020":











16) "Ancient Postal Routes - Within and Outside Europe", Iceland: Two Postage Stamps issued by "Islandpostur" (Iceland Post) in the denominations of ISK 3150: Date of Stamps issue: 07.05.2020

17) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Old Road Majstorska Cesta", Croatia: A Se-tenant of two Stamps of the values of 8.60 HRK issued by Croatian Post: Date of stamp issue: 08.05.2020

















Links to Posts on Croatia on this Blog:









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