Detail

`The worldwide concern for the preservation of our ecosystem has grown, as certain wild animals and plants have become endangered species. The major reasons for the threat to their survival are soil, water and air pollution, which harm their environment, together with the indiscriminate, often illegal capture of wild animals and gathering wild plants. Therefore, in order to spread public awareness of rare living creatures and help protect them from extintion, the Ministry of Information and Communications each year issues special postage stamps featuring species of wildlife under threat. This time the Ministry has chosen the ``golden frog`` and the ``Korean toad`` as the subjects on these postage stamps. The golden frog(Rana plancyi chosenica Okada)is 6cm long in length, with a yellow-brown belly, well-developed webbed feat and a bright green back covered with light-brown protuberances. These frogs are native to southern and western provinces of Korea and they spawn in rice paddies or ponds. The Korean toad(Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor)is 6 to 10cm long in length, with a dark brown back and black protuberances scattered all over its body. The female is large than the male, with more closely-spaced protuberances. Its diet consists mainly of insects such as ants and bees,and its habitat covers Korea, Japan and China. In issuing these two postage stamps, the ministry hopes that it will alert the public and generate concern about rare wild animals and plants, thereby contributing to a restoration of the balace in our ecosystem.`