Set of 5: 1992 New Orleans Zoo Animals Series

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29 FIRST DAY OF ISSUE Oct. 1,1992 New Orleans, LA 70113 CHÚCK RIPPER 29 FIRST DAY OF ISSUE Oct. 1, 1992 Www. Orleans, LA 113 CHUCK RIPPER 29 King Per FIRST DAY OF ISSUE Oct. 1,1992 New Orleans, LA 70113 CHUCK RIPPER 29 Flening FIRST DAY OF ISSUE Oct. 1, 1992 ans, LA 701 1 3 CHUCK RIPPER 29 Bn Nos FIRST DAY OF ISSUE Oct. 1, 1992 New Orleans, LA 70 1 1 3 CHUICK RIPPER

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GIRAFFE First Day of Issue: October 1, 1992 First Issue Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Buzzards soar high above the savannah, searching for carrion. Seeking prey, a cheetah scans the horizon. Lions nap in the afternoon sun, while Cape buffalo seek the coolness of area water holes. Many animals live in Africa, but none more unique than the giraffe. Often called “the animal built by committee," the giraffe looks as if it was put together from spare parts. As ungainly as it may appear, the giraffe is nevertheless one of the most wide- spread, successful herbivores of the African plains. Its extremely long neck and forelegs allow the giraffe to access foliage beyond the reach of other mammals. It has a tongue that can extend 18 inches to gather food, and plate-sized hooves which it uses as weapons to defend its young. A kick from the front feet of a giraffe can quickly kill a lion. While its senses of hearing and smell are highly developed, the giraffe's most acute sense is sight. No. 92-121 First Day of Issue Postcard Collection ©1992 Fleetwood® Cheyenne, WY 82008-0001 Original painting for the First Day of Issue Postcard by Chuck Ripper Heetwood OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTCARD NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION BENGAL TIGER First Day of Issue: October 1, 1992 First Issue Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Patience, cunning, and remarkable physical capabilities make the tiger one of the most efficient and deadly predators in the world. Exaggerated hind limbs allow it to leap great distances. Heavily muscled forelimbs and shoulders, coupled with forepaws equipped with long, razor-sharp claws, enable the tiger to grab and bring down prey as large as a young rhino. The tiger has powerful jaws, and potentially fatal bites are quickly delivered by long, somewhat flattened canines. A patient and solitary hunter, the tiger stalks its prey while con- cealed in available cover. Crouching, the tiger methodi- cally moves one paw in front of the other as it gradually moves closer to its target. Pausing frequently to raise its head above the foliage and assess its position, the tiger will swing its tail slowly back and forth. Having closed the distance, the tiger gathers itself up and mounts a furious charge — usually from behind or to the side — most often reaching its prey within a few bounds and knocking it from its feet. No. 92-122 First Day of Issue Postcard Collection™ ©1992 Fleetwood® Cheyenne, WY 82008-0001 Original painting for the First Day of Issue Postcard by Chuck Ripper Heetwood OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTCARD NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION KING PENGUIN First Day of Issue: October 1, 1992 First Issue Location: New Orleans, Louisiana The King Penguin is a flightless bird inhabiting the far reaches of the Southern Hemisphere. While the family is associated with Antarctica, only two species – the Adélie and the Emperor — are common to or reach this frigid continent. The other species of penguins can be found along the cool southern coasts of Africa, New Zealand, Australia and South America. Despite its clumsy gait and somewhat comical appearance, the King Penguin is ideally adapted to life in the subantarctic. During the process of evolution, its wings have devel- oped into modified flippers which propel the bird through the water. Its feathers are comprised of fluffy filaments which make them virtually water-proof, and a thick layer of blubber provides additional insulation. The King Pen- guin is sustained on a diet of fish, crustaceans and squid, and remains at sea for weeks at a time to feed. Basically defenseless, this bird is also the favorite fare of marine carnivores such as the Orca and Leopard Seal. No. 92-123 First Day of Issue Postcard Collection™ ©1992 Fleetwood® Cheyenne, WY 82008-0001 Original painting for the First Day of Issue Postcard by Chuck Ripper Heetwood OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTCARD NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION GREATER FLAMINGOS First Day of Issue: October 1, 1992 First Issue Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Flamingos are strikingly beautiful birds that feed on small aquatic animals. Their long legs and necks allow them to wade and feed in relatively deep water. They have filter- like beaks which enable them to sift their food from salt lakes and brackish lagoons. Flamingos are long-lived birds — some zoo specimens have lived more than 30 years that develop slowly. They are not fully grown until their second year, and do not breed until their sixth. Breeding grounds are located in remote areas near water. There, flamingos gather in huge colonies numbering in the hundreds of thousands. These exotic birds make a spectacular sight during the early breeding season. They stand together in loose groups and perform ritualized stretching and preening movements in sequence. This ceremony helps to separate the individual birds ready for reproduction from the group at large. No. 92-124 First Day of Issue Postcard Collection™ ©1992 Fleetwood® Cheyenne, WY 82008-0001 Original painting for the First Day of Issue Postcard by Chuck Ripper Heetwood OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTCARD NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION GIANT PANDA First Day of Issue: October 1, 1992 First Issue Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Giant Pandas have been sources of scientific curiosity and wonder for nearly a century. Some authorities group Giant Pandas with bears; others advocate that Pandas belong to the raccoon clan. While many others maintain that Giant Pandas have their own separate family, all agree that these rare and cuddly creatures have a unique place in the hearts of animal-lovers the world over. Before the late 1860s, Europeans never knew of such a creature. But in 1869, a Jesuit missionary to the Orient discovered some panda pelts, although more than 40 years passed before a European actually observed the animal in the wild. In 1972, America received a remarkable gift from the People's Republic of China — a pair of Giant Pandas named Ling-Ling and Hsing Hsing. At the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., they captured the hearts of a nation and broadened its citizens' appreciation of wild animals. Once roaming over large portions of China and Burma, the Giant Panda is now an endangered species. Fewer than 1,000 remain outside captivity. No. 92-125 First Day of Issue Postcard Collection™ ©1992 Fleetwood® Cheyenne, WY 82008-0001 Original painting for the First Day of Issue Postcard by Chuck Ripper Fleetwood OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTCARD NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION