Save Vanishing Species featured on semi-postal stamp
A Save Vanishing Species semi-postal stamp featuring the Amur tiger club will be issued on Tuesday, Sept. 20. The stamp will sell for 55 cents each or $11 for a sheet of 20 stamps. Net proceeds from the sales will go to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to support its Multinational Species Conservation Funds.
Vanishing species such as tigers, African and Asian elephants, rhinos, great apes and marine turtles will benefit from funds raised through stamp sales. Five million stamp sheets will be printed initially and reprints will be based on customer demand.
To honor the issuance of this stamp, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is partnering with Sanibel (A) Postmaster Debbie Howard to raise awareness of the fundraising postage stamp.
On Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the refuge will host a special National Public Lands Day with free admission to Wildlife Drive and other special activities.
Until 12:30 p.m. a representative from the U.S. Postal Service will be located next to the “Ding” Darling Refuge Nature Store to sell Save Vanishing Species stamps.
A drawing will be held for a framed stamp art picture of the Save Vanishing Species stamps. For each sheet of stamps purchased, one ticket will be available for the drawing.
This semi-postal stamp is the fourth of its type issued by the Postal Service. These stamps provide a convenient way for the American public to contribute to help protect threatened and vanishing species.
The Multinational Species Coalition – an alliance of 16 animal conservation groups with 15 million members representing conservationists, zoos, veterinarians, humane interests, circuses and sportsmen – has been created to support the funds designated by Congress.
The Coalition also is committed to bringing greater attention to the Save Vanishing Species semi-postal stamp to help raise money for its cause.