October 27, 2015

1991 CZECH REPUBLIC - The gray wolf


The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is a canid native to the wilderness and remote areas of North America and Eurasia, which is distinguished from other Canis species by its larger size. Its winter fur is long and bushy, and predominantly a mottled gray in color, although nearly pure white, red, or brown to black also occur. It is a social animal, travelling in nuclear families consisting of a mated pair, accompanied by the pair's adult offspring.

The gray wolf is typically an apex predator throughout its range. It feeds primarily on large ungulates, though it also eats smaller animals, livestock, carrion, and garbage. It is one of the world's best known and well researched animals. It has a long history of association with humans, having been despised and hunted in most pastoral communities because of its attacks on livestock, while conversely being respected in some agrarian and hunter-gatherer societies.

The gray wolf was once one of the world's most widely distributed mammals. However, the species is now extinct in much of Western Europe, because these intelligent and shy animals have become the victims of tales about bloodthirsty beasts. After the total extermination in previous centuries, wolves started to return to the Czech Republic in the late 19th century. Despite good habitat conditions in many forested border areas, their presence has been limited on the Beskydy Mountains. Rarely it has occurred also in other mountains - Bohemian forest or Jeseníky.

About the stamp 
The stamp is part of a large series of definitive stamps depicting flowers. 

References
Grey Wolf - Wikipedia

Sender: Eva / Gingerstorm (postcrossing) CZ-727879
Sent from Prague (Prague / Czech Republic), on 23.10.2015 

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