2013 $1.10 Endangered Species

2013 U.N. Endangered Species
New York Office

The 21st set in the United Nations Endangered Species Series focuses on nocturnal animals in danger of extinction.  The Asian tapir, Mongoose lemur, Flat-headed cat, and Aye-aye are featured on the New York Office stamps.  The Aye-aye of Madagascar is the world’s largest nocturnal primate.  Its varied diet, ranging from grubs, nuts, and fruits, to eggs, provides the Aye-aye a fighting chance in a constantly decreasing habitat.  However, as its forest habitat shrinks, the Aye-aye ventures into villages to steal food and is often killed by farmers protecting their crops.  Others are killed because of a superstition that the animals predict death.