Commemorative stamp series - Germany / German Democratic Republic 1985 - 50 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 50 Pfennig value: Banteng (Bos javanicus) With its eye-catching white "rear view mirror" and the likewise white "boots" the Banteng can not compete with any other wild cattle (Fam. Bovidae ) be confused. The bulls are usually deep brown to black-brown colored, some even black with a stitch in the bluish. The cows look yellow and reddish brown. The head-fuselage length measures up to 200 cm, the shoulder height up to 170 cm in the bulls, which are a good quarter and larger than the cows, and their body mass can be up to 900 kg. The Banteng is now a very rare inhabitant of the whole of India with the peninsula of Malacca and also occurs on the islands of Kalimantan and Djawa. As distinct cultivators, they only live in primeval forests untouched by man, with bamboo jungles and marshy terrain being particularly popular habitats. They form small herds in a total strength up to 30 individuals, consisting of cows with offspring, heifers and some young animals. The old bulls join only during the rutting season. After a gestation period of 270 to 280 days, a lovely yellow-brown calf is born, which is intensively cared for by the mother for about nine months. From the Banteng also originates a domestic cattle form, the Balirind, which is present in the same area and whose existence is also threatened by importation, including crossbreeding of more powerful breeds. In the zoos of the GDR Bantengs are maintained and bred only in Tierpark Berlin.