Duo stamping out bird deaths
A DYNAMIC duo are driving a fundraising effort to protect the albatross.
Oliver Carter and Sam Brunt, who are recycling officers at Bosley St Mary’s Primary School, have been collecting used stamps from classmates.
Each loose stamp has small value but in large quantities they can be converted into cash.
Oliver and Sam have collected the stamps and handed them to Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers, the junior section of The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in East Cheshire, which is campaigning to stop the needless death of albatross.
The cash collected funds vital international conservation work protecting the birds.
Shockingly 15 of the 22 species of albatross are threatened with extinction. The main threat to albatrosses is death at the end of a hook on a fishing long-line.
Working closely with BirdLife International partners in the Southern Ocean, the RSPB are working to stop the needless slaughter of these amazing birds and bring them back from the brink of extinction.
Tina Hanak, group leader for Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers, said: “Not many people will be fortunate enough to see an albatross, but everyone can take a role in trying to help them.
“If everyone could be encouraged to send in their stamps to the appeal, these birds would have a brighter future.
“The RSPB sells stamps to dealers and an auction house. For example, £50 will buy a tori-line (bird scaring device) for a longline fishing vessel.”
The RSPCA can raise up to £6 per kilo for UK stamps and £15 per kg for foreign stamps. First day covers and rare stamps (pre-1970) can be auctions.