For immediate release 10 February 2014
Guernsey Post is delighted to announce the release of its latest issue featuring the Sumatran orangutan, as part of its Endangered Species series (issue date 12 February).
As with all previous issues in the series, the Sumatran orangutan has been beautifully illustrated by world renowned wildlife artist Joel Kirk. The issue comprises a miniature sheet stamp, presentation pack and first day cover.
The most threatened of the six great ape species, the Sumatran orangutan or Pongo abelii is listed as critically endangered with an estimated population of just 6,600. They are endemic to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia and are now generally restricted to the north of the island.
“We have chosen the Sumatran orangutan for our 10th Endangered Species issue, as estimates show that populations have declined by over 80% in the last 75 years,” said Dawn Gallienne, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post.
“It is a sad fact that unless radical action is taken to conserve them, these highly intelligent apes may well become extinct within just a few decades.”
The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.guernseystamps.com or by calling Philatelic Customer Services on (01481) 716486.
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Press enquiries to:-
Sarah Amies, pr consultant, 01484 687040/07811 133973
Dawn Gallienne, head of philatelic, Guernsey Post. 01481 733524
Notes to editors: -
The Sumatran orangutan is the world’s largest tree dwelling mammal. The apes are well adapted to this lofty lifestyle; they have opposable toes on their feet and use their arm span, which is around two metres, to swing between branches. Females hardly ever travel on the ground and adult males do so only rarely. Almost every night orangutans will construct a new sleeping nest from branches, usually 15 to 100 feet up in a tree. Sumatran orangutans are omnivores, primarily eating fruit, but they also eat leaves, insects, including termites and ants and on occasion, the meat of the slow loris. Male and female orangutans look quite different; they both have long red hair, but males are much bigger than females. Life expectancy in the wild has been estimated at around 30 to 40 years and orangutans have been known to live as long as 60 years in captivity. Female orangutans first give birth at about 15 years of age, gestation lasts approximately eight and a half months, and the females only give birth once every eight years – the longest time period of any animal.
The is the tenth stamp to be issued in the endangered species series, which began in 2004 with the golden-snubbed monkey and was followed by the basking shark; Florida everglades; mount gorilla; the Amur leopard; the Asian elephant; the blue whale; the Bengal tiger and the giant panda. The entire set, including the Sumatran orangutan, is available to purchase in an endangered species folder priced at £33.56.
Limited edition prints of the stamp artwork are available to purchase on the Guernsey Stamps website.
Stamp specification
Date of issue: 12 February 2014
Designer: Joel Kirk
Printer: Cartor Security Printing
Value: £3
Process: Offset lithography
Stamp size: 71.4mm deep x 59.6mm wide
Miniature Sheet Size: 84mm deep x 118mm wide
Paper: 110 gsm unwatermarked / PVA adhesive
Perforation: 14 x 14.25
Cylinder: A
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