CANADA Save the whales
A new set of stamps from Canada Post shows an eco-conscious aspect of philately as it raises awareness of the plight of five endangered whale species.
Canadian waters are home to more than 30 species, some of whom have been particularly threatened by ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and debris, pollution, climate change and ocean noise. Whale species whose populations have been assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada are: • Beluga whale. These social creatures live in pods of up to several hundred members, and are at risk in the St Lawrence Estuary, Cumberland Sound and Ungava Bay. • Blue whale. The largest mammal on Earth, it’s now estimated that they number less than 10,000. • Killer whale: The population of Canada’s southern resident population of these highly social creatures is estimated at around 75. • North Atlantic right whale: With only around 350 of these whales now in existence, it’s projected they’ll be extinct in 30 years. • Northern bottlenose whale. These are toothed mammals about the size of an orca, who live in deep underwater such as the Scotian Shelf, where the whale population is estimated at 164. ‘It’s really important to have these whales recognised as endangered,’ said Dr. Hal Whitehead, a biologist and professor at Dalhousie University and co-chair of the COSEWIC Marine Mammals Specialist Subcommittee. ‘This recognition can lead to legal protection. It can also lead organizations and people to act voluntarily to stop activities that harm the whales. Thirdly, it raises awareness that we have a problem here, and we need to do something about it.’
The stamps feature illustrations by artist David Miller, which capture the magnificence of these threatened creatures swimming in their marine habitats in all their grace and beauty. The stamp issue is cancelled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which is the home to many whale rescue, stewardship and research efforts.
The stamp issue is printed by Lowe Martin and includes a booklet of ten permanent domestic-rate stamps, an official first day cover, a souvenir sheet of five stamps, an uncut press sheet of 25 stamps and a framed uncut press sheet.
Issue date: 20 May 2022, canadapost.ca