Indian Wild Life 1.10.1976

This cover and the stamps on it highlight the wonderful wild life that abounds India. These are just a few examples. A brief description of the animals shown on the stamps is given below:

 The Swmp Deer (25P) is found exclusively in India. In Terai (Uttar Pradesh), Assam and the Sunderbans, the Swamp Deer is distinguished by its splayed hooves and larger skull, hile in the hard open ground of Madhya Pradesh, it has smaller well-knit hooves. The coast of the Swamp Deer, almost ooly in texture, shades from brown to yelloish bron. There is much variation in the form of the antlers. 10 to 14 is the usual number of points of branches of antlers, though there may be as many as 20. Samp Deer has moderate eyesight and hearing power and acute scense of smell. The number of swamp deer is decreasing and it is a protected animal.

INDIAN LION (50P) The Asiatic or Indian Lion (Panthera leo persia) used to occur in Persia and Iraq as well as in most parts of the northeast and north of the sub-continent of India. But since 1884, they have survived only in what is now Gujarat State, and owe their survival to the former rulers of the princely state of Junagarh. At the beginning of the present century there were probably only 100 lions left in the Gir Forest: in a 1950 census they were reported as numbering 240 and in a similar census in 1955 they had increased to 290. About 280 would be a reasonable estimate of their strength at the present time. The Indian lion is similar to its African cousin, but has some slight differences such as fewer spots visible when young and bigger tail tassels. Regarding their manes, male Indian lions all have manes whereas those in Africa are sometimes maneless. Regarding the size of manes, those in Africa are as a rule slightly larger, probably due to differences in habitat and elevation above the sea level. The Indian lion belongs to an ethnological stock distinct from the African lion. Their habitat in Gujarat used to be 2,000 square miles, but this has now shrunk to some 500 square miles known as the Gir Forest. There are proposals to create a sanctuary or national park at this place. It is fitting that such a noble and majestic creature should be the national emblem of India.

The Leopard (Re1.00) or Panther ranges over the whole country and extends into Burma and Sri Lanka. A typical panther from the Indian Peninsula is sleek short-haired animal with a fulvous or bright fulvous coat marked with small close-set black rosettes. The Panther is able to live almost anywhere. It frequently hunts by day, particularly if it has failed to secure food at night. The panther will kill and eat anything it can overpoer with safety- cattle, deer and monkeys, the smaller beats of prey and larger rodents like porcupines. The panthers habit's bring into far ore frequent contact with man than the tiger, and as such it has become a greater potential scourge on human life and property.

The Caracal (Rs2.00) is commonly found in the north and north-western hills of Kutch, the dry parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Central India. The caracal has broad head and tufted ears. Its coat is thick and soft.