COVER N. 341 - SRI LANKA

Postmark: Headquarters PO Colombo 21.10.2023

Posted on the 21st October; received on the 3rd November 2023

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Another fantastic cover from Sri Lanka, full of interesting fauna stamps. Thanks a lot Ravindra!

I really like wild animal stamps and to receive an envelope with 6 of them on, a full set, it's nothing short of great!

Yala National park occupies an area of 378 square miles and is located in the south of Sri Lanka, right on the coast, some 300 kilometres from Colombo. a Wildlife sanctuary since 1900, it is the oldest wildlife reserve in Sri Lanka.

On 28JUL2013, Sri Lanka Post issued the set of stamps on the cover with examples of wild fauna from Yala National Park:

5 Rupees - Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Although having a global distribution the sole member of the Eretmochelys genus is classified as critically endangered due to hunting for consumption of their meat and eggs and also for ornamental use of their carapaces and also because of loss of nesting areas due to coastal development.

15 Rupees - Swamp Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)

Classified as threatened the swamp crocodile can be found in Iran, Pakistan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka, in freshwater lakes, rivers and marshes.

25 Rupees - Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

The largest land animal in Asia, the asian elephant  is classified as an endangered species. It occurs in the Indian subcontinent, Continental Southeast Asia, and Asian islands.

30 Rupees - Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)

The black-necked stork is classified as near threatened and has a distribution that encompasses the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, while the biggest population of the species occurs in Australia.

40 Rupees - Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

The wild boar is an example of an animal with a truly global distribution. In fact its populations are on the rise at least in some places causing extensive damage to crops and plantations. It is classified under the "least concern" status

50 Rupees - Spotted Deer (Axis axis)

Another animal of  "least concern" status, the spoted deer occurs in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.