Florida panther stamp part of post office's endangered species series

Dec 11, 2023

Not that it needs any more notoriety, but the Florida Panther has achieved special status in the world of stamp collecting.

On May 19, the United State Postal Service (USPS) held a first-day of issue dedication ceremony in Wall, South Dakota to reveal a pane of stamps issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.

The pane, which may be purchased at your local Post Office, presents a photographic portfolio of 20 endangered animal species, which are found within the 50 states and American territories and possessions or living near U.S. borders.

The Florida panther, according to the National Wildlife Federation website, became endangered during the 1970s, when only about 20-30 Florida panthers remained in the wild. Today, there are just over 200 left in the wild. They are found in southern Florida in swamplands such as Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.

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On Dec. 27, 1973, President Richard Nixon signed the ESA into law. In the 50 years since, other nations worldwide have emulated the pioneering U.S. initiative. The ESA provides a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats both domestically and abroad.

Under the ESA, more than 1,670 U.S. species and 698 foreign species are safeguarded to increase their chances of survival. Scientists estimate that hundreds of species have been rescued from the brink of extinction in the United States since the ESA began. A species found to need protection is listed under the ESA as either threatened or endangered, the latter defined as "in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range."

Included on the pane of 50 stamps issued by the USPS are:

The colorful and charismatic endangered creatures presented on the stamps are selected from among more than 13,000 species featured in Joel Sartore's National Geographic Photo Ark project which aims to document every species living in the world's zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries; inspire action through education; and help protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts.