Detail

This April 24 marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bolivia and the Republic of Korea. The two countries have maintained a friendly relationship since they established diplomatic ties in 1965, and most recently, Korea has been strengthening its resource diplomacy with Bolivia, which possesses substantial natural gas and mineral reserves. To celebrate the 50years of diplomatic ties, Korea Post and its Bolivian counterpart issues joint stamps featuring endangered species, Mergus squamatus and Phibalura flavirostris, respectively. The Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus), is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as a class 2 endangered species subject to protection by the Korean Ministry of Environment, and as Natural Monument No. 448 by the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration. Generally with a body length of 60 centimeters, this striking duck is known for a crest of elongated feathers and a scaled pattern on its flanks. It has black eyes and a thin red bill with a yellow tip. The adult male has a blackish head and neck with dark green gloss, a scaled dark pattern on the flanks and rump, and white breast. It breeds in a very limited region, such as southeastern Russia and northeastern China and it winters in South China, Korea, and Japan. Its primary source of food is fish. Native to Bolivia, the Swallow-tailed Cotinga (Phibalura flavirostris) is considered “near threatened” by the IUCN as the species has declined in recent decades due to habitat loss for such reasons as reckless lumbering and forest burning. Generally 22 centimeters long, its most distinctive feature is a long, forked tail. It has hair near the narrow, short beak, and the area surrounding its eyes is black. Its throat is bright golden yellow and connects with a black and white-striped breast. The male has a blackish head with dark grey crown patch. The female is lighter in color, and has a shorter tail. It is an altitudinal migrant, nesting in montane regions of 1,400~2,000 meters in elevation and descending during the winter. It is known to feed on mainly fruits.