Canada Post is highlighting endangered whales this week with the release of a new stamp.
The stamps will help raise awareness of five endangered whale species.
They are:
- Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) – St. Lawrence Estuary, Cumberland Sound, Ungava Bay
- Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) – Atlantic and Pacific
- Killer whale (Orcinus orca) – Southern resident in the Northeast Pacific
- North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
- Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) – Scotian Shelf
There are more than 30 species of whales in Canadian waters, but these populations are at risk.
This is due to ship strikes or entanglement in fishing gear and debris. Pollution, climate change and ocean noise are also a threat.
Stamps will be available for purchase at post offices starting on May 20.
“It’s really important to have these whales recognized as Endangered. This recognition can lead to legal protection. It can also lead organizations and people to act voluntarily to stop activities that harm the whales,” says Dr. Hal Whitehead, a biologist and professor at Dalhousie University and co-chair of the COSEWIC Marine Mammals Specialist Subcommittee. “Thirdly, it raises awareness that we have a problem here, and we need to do something about it.”
