Commemorative stamp series - Germany / German Democratic Republic 1985 - 20 Pfennig

Animals threatened with extinction With the illustrations of several endangered species, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the German Democratic Republic issues five multi-colored special postage stamps. Special cancellation from 25th June to 24th August 1985 Animals in danger of extinction 20 Pfennig value: Spectacled bear (Trernarctos ornatus) The spectacled bear is the only representative of the large bear family (Ursidae) in South America. He is not one of the greatest species; The males reach a head-hull length up to 140 cm, a shoulder height up to 80 cm and a body mass up to 130 kg. The females are much smaller and only half as heavy. The name received the type after the eye-catching white glasses drawing, otherwise the coat is jet black. The eye border can be very diverse and is rarely as complete as pronounced on the brand image; there are various reducers such as "monocell carrier", d. H. In these animals, the glasses are trained only around one eye, and there are also virtually "glasses-less" individuals, with only a little white on the bridge of the nose. The spectacled bear is a mountain inhabitant and occurs in the Andes from Venezuela to Chile and Bolivia at altitudes between 1,500 and 2,000 m above sea level. The forest is its habitat. The spectacled bear is considered a climbing artist, and high up in a strong tree, he also builds his sleeping nest. In the diet, the vegetable diet far outweighs, especially fruits are consumed. As is the case for all bears found in colder climates, the spectacled bear is characterized by a prolonged gestation period that lasts from eight to eight and a half months. Then the female throws up to three young, which like all newborn big bears are almost tiny and weigh only about 320 g. The free-standing stocks are threatened with extinction. An International Stud Book is kept in zoo Frankfurt / Main via the spectacled bears kept in zoos. In the GDR, the spectacled bear is kept only in Leipzig Zoo and Tierpark Berlin.