The United States Postal Service (USPS) unveiled a new Forever Stamp at the San Diego Zoo Tuesday inspired by one of the sea’s top dogs: the shark.
The USPS debuted its new 49-cent pictorial stamps featuring fives species of shark found in U.S. waters – the mako, thrasher, great white, hammerhead and whale shark.
The stamps – each with a bright blue ocean background, depicting sharks swimming – aim to raise awareness for conservation of the animals as they face ongoing threats from wildlife trafficking.
“They’re beautiful creatures – very elegant, full of life – and they’re very misunderstood,” said Christine Carmichael, the manager of marketing for the USPS. “The U.S. Postal Service is very dedicated to partnering with the zoo to help conservation.”
[[451453323,C]]
A dedication ceremony for the stamp was held at the zoo’s new Cape Fynbos habitat at Africa Rocks, which is home to the zoo’s first-ever leopard sharks, the most common shark species found along California’s coast.
The 12 leopard sharks that live there range in age from 5 to 20 and can be seen swimming alongside the zoo’s colony of endangered African penguins.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Carmichael said the “Save Sharks” Forever Stamps are available online and at some local post offices. Since it’s a Forever Stamp, it can be used for years and years down the line, although she said it’s not a bad idea to put one aside, perhaps in a frame or book.
[[40862597,C]]
