Commemorative stamp series - Germany / German Democratic Republic 1980 - 35 Pfennig

Endangered animals With illustrations of several endangered species, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the German Democratic Republic issues six multi-colored special postage stamps. Animals in danger of extinction 35-pfennig value: Musk Ox Musk oxen are the northernmost ungulates. They live in Greenland and Arctic Canada up to 77 ° N. Br. By long, dense hair the animals are excellently adapted to the harsh climate. The sparse vegetation limits the frequency of these high-Nordic ruminants. At the beginning of this century, stocks were threateningly reduced by heavy hunting. By renouncing the zoos on purchase of musk oxen and hunting ban in the home countries, the danger of extinction was banned. On Spitsbergen, in Norway and Alaska, muskoxes from Greenland were successfully naturalized. A few years ago, musk oxen were settled in the Arctic regions of the Soviet Union (Taimyr Peninsula and Wrangel Island), where they became extinct after the Ice Age. Since 1961 there are increasing successes in keeping and breeding in zoos. In Tierpark Berlin several offsprings have been successful in the second generation.