This Official First Day Cover for the Endangered Whales stamp issue features an underwater illustration by David Miller and a green background that ties into the designs of the stamp issue’s uncut press sheet and booklet.

This stamp issue features illustrations by David Miller that capture the grace and beauty of these five magnificent mammals swimming past an unseen lens in their underwater environment. The cancel mark is a line drawing of a whale’s tail.

Graceful and intelligent, whales are magnificent marine mammals. This stamp issue celebrates the remarkable beauty and diversity of whales found in Canadian waters. It also raises awareness of the plight of five species – the blue whale, beluga whale, killer whale, northern bottlenose whale and North Atlantic right whale – that have populations assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

Canada Post has a longstanding tradition of showcasing Canadian wildlife and using stamps to raise awareness of the impacts of human activity on fragile animal populations.

The issue was cancelled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which is home to many whale rescue, stewardship and research efforts. May 20 was chosen as the issue date, as whales are often sighted off the coasts of Canada between May and October.

Some populations of these species have been assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Threats vary but include chemical and biological contaminants, stresses caused by noise and physical disturbances, collisions with vessels, entanglement in fishing gear and debris, reduced availability of food, hunting and the impacts of climate change.

At up to 30 metres long, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest animal on Earth. The species faces a fragile future in both its Atlantic and Pacific populations.

The beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is well adapted to swimming under ice because it lacks a dorsal fin. It is at risk in the St. Lawrence Estuary, Cumberland Sound and Ungava Bay.

The killer whale (Orcinus orca) is a highly social animal that lives in family-based pods. This species is seeing a steady decline in its southern resident population in the Northeast Pacific.

The northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) is curious by nature. There are only an estimated 164 remaining on the Scotian Shelf, one of its deep-water habitats in the North Atlantic.

The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is named for once being an easy and profitable target for hunters. It is disappearing so rapidly that it could soon be extinct, with an estimated 350 individuals remaining worldwide.

Product # 404187144

Endangered Whales: Official First Day Cover