03 July 2015

INDIAN WILDLIFE 1.10.1983


INDIAN WILDLIFE. Fauna and flora are not only nature's gift to mankind but also vital elements in the biosphere that supports human life on this fragile planet. Forests and wildlife are intricately interwined in our ecosystem and each draws sustenance from the other and in turn forms biocoenetic relationship with man. However, man often fails to realise the vital relationship. As more and more trees are falled to meet the growing need for wood, as more and more forests are cleared to provide land for human use, the wildlife habitat is constantly, and often irretrievably, shrinking. Industrial effluents also contribute to degradation of natural habitat. Shrinking forests, degradation of habitat, indiscriminate decimation at the hands of poachers have resulted in many species of fauna being forever lost to mankind, many being gravely endangered and threatened.

The first day cover shows the "BARBES LEAF MONKEY".
(Re 1.00) GOLDEN LANGUR (Presbytis geei, Khajuria 1958). This primate was discovered by the renowned naturalist, E.P. Gee in 1955. It is a beautiful animal with black, hairless face except for a long, pale beared that gives a golden iridescence in bright light. Its habitat is dense deciduous tropical forests with 'sal' (Shorea robusta) as the predominant vegetation. It is limited to a very small area in northwestern Assam and southcentral Bhutan and is distributed on both banks of the Brahmaputra river. Golden Langur is exclusively vegetarian. Its population in the wild is very limited making it one of the rare species.
(Rs 2.00) LION_TAILED MACAQUE (Macaca ilenus). The home of this species of primate is the tropical rain forests of the Western Ghats in South India. Formerly ranging freely from Goa to Kanyakumari along the Western Ghats, it is now restricted to the Nilgiris, the Cardamom Hills, the Anaimalais and Periyar. It is generally found in the evergreen forest belt at the altitudes of 800 m to 1300 m. It has a glossy black coat, thick mane and a tufted tail. Shy and seclusive by nature, it confines itself to treetops and is therefore difficult to encounter in its dense, dark forest environment. It feeds on fruits, roots and insects. The continuous assault on its habitat has reduced its population in the wild to about 200.

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