New stamps and cover on Wildlife

 

The Oryx in the UAE

Date of Issue : 28 August 2013

  

Emirates Post issued set of 3 stamps & Souvenir sheet featuring Oryx on 28th August 2013.

: Kenneth Sequeira – Dubai (UAE )

Oryx is a genus consisting of four large antelope species. Three of them are native to arid parts of Africa, and the fourth to the Arabian Peninsula. Their fur is pale with contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight. The exception is the scimitar oryx, which lacks dark markings on the legs, only has faint dark markings on the head, has an ochre neck, and horns that are clearly decurved.

The Arabian oryx was only saved from extinction through a captive breeding program and reintroduction to the wild. The scimitar oryx, which is now listed as Extinct in the Wild, also relies on a captive breeding program for its survival. Small populations of several oryx species, such as the Scimitar Oryx, exist in Texas and New Mexico (USA) in wild game ranches. Gemsboks were released at the White Sands Missile Range and have become an invasive species of concern at the adjacent White Sands National Monument.

New Special Cover on Wildlife…

A Special cover was released in honour of Machali (T-16), the royal tigress and pride of Ranthambore National Park - 18th September 2013.

Machali (T-16), the royal tigress is the most famed in India and is exclusively the pride of Ranthambore National Park. It is the most photographed tigress in Ranthambore and is also being known as the "lady of the lake" since it can mostly be found along the water territory of the jungle. The most noticeable thing in Machali is in her name. It is named so since she has the fish shaped marking on the left part of her face. Her legendary fight with 14 foot long crocodile has really created a history and it was the first time since such an encounter has been recorded and filmed.

This renowned tigress was first witnessed during monsoons in 1997, probably in July and this was the time when people impressed with her majestic look and flexible movements. She gave birth to three cubs, one female and the other two male by mating with a large male tiger called "Bamboo Ram". The female one was being named "Sundari (T-17)" and the cubs were named "broken tail" and "slant ear".

Machali, the queen of the tiger dynasty is now in her devolving stage; a painful fact to be accepted. Machali is about 17 years old today old and has defied big cats' general life span of around 10-15 years in the wild. But still her royalty resounds at every nook and corner of Ranthambore. Machli or T-16, is not only the most famous tigress of the park. It has also delivered and protected as many as 11 cubs. The tigress was given the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the Travel Operators For Tigers (TOFT).

Courtesy : Indian Philately Digest