Endangered Wildlife – Chile 1984

In conjunction with WWF organisation, Chile Post issued the 4 postage WWF stamp  depicts  4 endangered species on 24 October 1984. The official FDC also issued on same date by Chile Post have pictured of those species and post marked with logo of WWF on the sealed stamps. The featured species are Arctocephalus philippii,  Huemul  or Hippocamelus bisulcus, chinchilla lanigera, and Balaenoptera musculus.

Arctocephalus philippii  or Juan Fernández Fur Seal

Arctocephalus philippii is a fur seal that breeds on the Juan Fernández Islands off the coast of Chile. It is the second smallest of the otariid seal.The seals have a relatively robust body and a long, slender and pointed snout. They have stubby foreflippers and hindflippers, and a mane of long coarse guard hairs from the top of the head to the shoulders. The population was protected and has grown quickly. There are now believed to be at least 10,000 animals on and around the island.

Hippocamelus bisulcus or the South Andean Deer

Hippocamelus bisulcus, also known as the Huemul  is an endangered species of deer native to the mountains of Argentina and Chile. The South Andean Deer ranges across the high mountainsides and cold valleys of the Andes.The animal ranges across a variety of often difficult habitat like :  Open periglacial scrubland, low bluffs and other rocky areas, and upland forests and forest-border.

Chinchilla lanigera or the long-tailed chinchilla

Chinchilla lanigera, also called the Chilean chinchilla, or lesser chinchilla, is one of two species of rodents from the genus Chinchilla,This species  occur in Aucó, near Illapel, IV Región, Chile in Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas and in La Higuera, ca. 100 km (62 mi) north of Coquimbo . General colour of upper parts is bluish or silvery gray, underparts are yellowish white. Tail has long, coarse, gray and black hairs on its dorsal surface.The Chilean chinchilla is endangered, with the second highest conservation priority among Chilean mammals.

Balaenoptera musculus

Balaenoptera musculus or the blue whale is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales.Blue whales most commonly live alone or with one other individual. It is not known how long traveling pairs stay together. In locations where there is a high concentration of food, as many as 50 blue whales have been seen scattered over a small area. However, they do not form the large, close-knit groups seen in other baleen species.Blue whales feed almost exclusively on krill, though they also take small numbers of copepods.