Maximum card/ maxicard from Canada - The North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis, which means "good, or true, whale of the ice")

The North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

Life in the ocean is fiercely competitive, as the males of this species can TESTify...:)

Read my previous blogpost for more TESTimony.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic_Right_Whale

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Asian Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) also known as the Moon Bear or White-Chested Bear - WWF maximum cards about Pakistan

"Asian Black Bear

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  (Redirected from Himalayan Bear)

The Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus), also known as the Moon bear^[2] or White-chested bear^[3] is a medium-sized species of bear, largely adapted for arboreal life, which occurs through much of southern Asia, Korea, northeastern China, the Russian far east and Honshū and Shikoku islands of Japan."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_Bear

There are many dangerous "entities" lurking in the wilderness of "The Pure Land" (a.k.a. Pakistan). This one here is NOT the deadliest. So don't shoot this innocent animal - it has no hidden agenda and it just wants to satisfy...bear necessities.

Oh, wait - killing may not be the worst thing that can happen, even to a bear!

"Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) is a Hong Kong-based charity that seeks to end cruelty to animals in Asia.

The AAF was founded in 1998 by Jill Robinson, who felt compelled to create the organisation after learning of the plight of the Asiatic Black Bear known as the “Moon Bear” because of the yellow crescent on its chest. Moon Bears are farmed throughout Asia for their bile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The methods used in bear bile farming involve bears living up to 25 years in crush cages with metal catheters inserted into their abdomens for bile extraction or open wounds through which the bile drips.[1]"

"In February 2009, Animals Asia rescued a dozen malnourished, diseased Asiatic Black Bears from abusive bile-harvesting farms in southwest China. The bears were given to Animals Asia under an agreement made in 2000 with the government to save sick bears from state and illegal farms. The animals went to the foundation's Moon Bear Rescue Center outside Chengdu, which has handled 260 freed bears since the agreement was signed. [5]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animals_Asia_Foundation

http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/bear-bf-12.html

http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1024&bih=653&q=bear+bile+farming&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

Happy Thanksgiving! The Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) - a dorincard/maximum card/maxicard/MC that I created using an Avery label to absorb the postmark ink. The postcard is very glossy - the postmark might have been ruined by that glossiness.

The Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) species from USA is NOT the ancestor of the domestic turkeys that we butcher and devour every Thanksgiving Day.

"The domestic turkey [...] was domesticated from the South Mexican subspecies of the Wild Turkey."

So we have our domestic turkey from the other United States: The United Mexican States - Spanish:  Estados Unidos Mexicanos (help·info)).

"Turkeys are popularly believed to be unintelligent, with claims made that during a rain storm turkeys will look up until they drown. Despite this image, the turkey is no more or less intelligent than a comparable animal,^[6] and while the birds will look at the sky for up to a minute during a rain storm, this is due to a genetic nervous disorder known as tetanic torticollar spasms.^[6] Other jests include that it is clumsy and too stupid to realize it can't fly, but both traits are due to modern breeding that makes turkeys much heavier than their wild relatives.^[6]"

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_turkey}

The Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) - WWF maxicards about Malawi (Republic of Malaŵi/ Chalo cha Malawi/ Dziko la Malaŵi)

"The Wattled Crane, Bugeranus carunculatus is a large bird found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It is monotypical for its genus.
At a height of up to 175 cm (nearly 6 feet), it is the largest crane in Africa and is the second tallest species of crane, after the Sarus Crane."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wattled_Crane

Interesting bird, eh?
Don't ask me about any similarity, with anything.

It is never SCALING back -The Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla). Maximum card from Taiwan/ Republic of China

This is another maximum card from Taiwan/Republic of China, made specially for me, at my specific request, by my good friend Shu-i. Thank you, again! :)

She managed to professionally custom-create this postcard, as well as others for the other animal stamps that I indicated. Then she affixed the stamp and had it handcancelled at the Post Office.

I'd love to have such a philatelic partner/friend in every country in the world...:)

And I am returning the favor - I am not just requesting items. I am offering, as well.

"If you want to HAVE a friend, you have TO BE one." :)

The Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a very interesting animal. Read for yourself. There are 8 species of pangolins in Asia and Africa.

The keratin plates, razor-sharp, are a great armor. Sisterhood of ants, bite me!

"A pangolin (pronounced /ˈpæŋɡəlɪn/), also scaly anteater or Tenggiling, is a mammal of the order Pholidota. There is only one extant family (Manidae) and one genus (Manis) of pangolins, comprising eight species. There are also a number of extinct taxa. Pangolins have large keratin scales covering their skin and are the only mammals with this adaptation.^[2] They are found in tropical regions of Africa and Asia. The name "pangolin" derives from the Malay word pengguling("something that rolls up")."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manidae

How to raid a cathedral:

The pangolin raids a termite cathedral mound for a meal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manis

When the going gets tough, just...hang on!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pangolin's_tail.jpg

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Happy PFF (Postcard Friendship Friday)!

Please visit: http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/

Maximum card from Transkei - the black-footed cat (Felis nigripes)

Small feline, but quite fierce in self-defense.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felis_nigripes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transkei

Not a true canyon: Bryce Canyon (USA) - maximum card that I created with an FDOI (First Day Of Issue) postmark

In the above MC, notice (click on it to enlarge) below the round cancel the group of horse riders (or mule riders?) on the trail.

This is a very interesting and weird landscape.

Not VOODOO, but HOODOO.

"Bryce Canyon National Park (pronounced /ˈbraɪs/) is a national park located in southwestern Utah in the United States. The major feature of the park is Bryce Canyon which, despite its name, is not actually a canyon but a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce is distinctive due to geological structures called hoodoos, formed by wind, water and ice erosion of the river and lake bed sedimentary rocks. The red, orange and white colors of the rocks provide spectacular vistas for park visitors."

"Bryce Canyon was not formed from erosion initiated from a central stream, meaning it technically is not a canyon. Instead headward erosion has excavated large amphitheater-shaped features in the Cenozoic-aged rocks of the Paunsagunt Plateau.^[5] This erosion exposed delicate and colorful pinnacles called hoodoos that are up to 200 feet (61 m) high. "

Another brick in the wall?

No, another hole in the wall, rather.

Here's another impressive view from there: Thor's Hammer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_Canyon

The Red Man of the Forest: The Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) - maximum card created for me by my friend Shinta (Indonesia)

I've read somewhere ['cause I don't read only from wikipedia.org :) ] that male orangutans don't fight with each other over mating rights, allegedly. Not worth the aggravation?

But here's what wikipedia says:

"Although orangutans are generally passive, aggression toward other orangutans is very common; they are solitary animals and can be fiercely territorial. Immature males will try to mate with any female, and may succeed in forcibly copulating with her if she is also immature and not strong enough to fend him off. Mature females easily fend off their immature suitors, preferring to mate with a mature male."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangutan

A young male orangutan may look for a "fender-bender".

Or, he may be a bender, but she may be a fender.

Fender of the of-fender (repeat offender).

The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater - official maxicard from Australia

Very interesting animal...

What do YOU know about it? :)

"The name Tachyglossus means "quick tongue", in reference to the speed with which the Echidna uses its tongue to catch ants and termites, and aculeatus means "spiny" or "equipped with spines".

[Strikethru typing, as element of comedic style...:) ]

So Tachyglossus is a genetic legacy. It comes from GENES, not GENE S - let's keep it simple...:)

"The Echidna's fur may be infested with what is said to be the world's largest flea, Bradiopsylla echidnae, which is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long."

Knob, knob, who's there?

"Like all monotremes, it has one orifice,^{[citation needed]} known as the cloaca, for the passage of faeces, urine and reproductive products.^[12] The male has internal testes, no external scrotum and a highly unusual penis with four knobs on the tip. The gestating female develops a pouch on its underside, where it raises its young."

" The Short-beaked Echidna has the largest prefrontal cortex relative to body size of any mammal, it shows rapid eye movement during sleep, and its brain has been shown to contain a claustrum similar to that of placental mammals, so linking this structure to their common ancestor".

I would love to find philatelic partners/friends (Papua-New Guinea? Australia? any other country?) who can trade with me maximum cards with the other 3 species of echidna, and maximum cards in general. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-beaked_Echidna

Future maximum card from a Finnish birch wooden (but flexible) postcard: Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)

Thank you again, Maffe from Suomi/Finland :) !

Someday, I'll send an Avery 8665 transparent label to a partner/friend from Finland, who will affix a matching Finnish stamp with the Boreal Owl.

http://www.birdtheme.org/species/imagespage.php?spec=798&fl=A

Then that stamp, on the label, will get a handcancel/postmark from a cooperating/open-minded postal associate (postal clerk) from Finland.

Once I receive the stamped and postmarked label back, I could carefully affix that onto my cool wooden postcard, which postcard I don't want to risk to lose it, if I were to mail it back to Finland.

Some might say that "an owl is an owl" - who cares about the different species of owls? :)
Well, the Boreal Owl is not...Karen Blixen's [pet] owl.
The Boreal Owl is actually..Tengmalm's Owl.
"This type of owl was featured in Out of Africa (film) as Karen Blixen's pet, although it is not native to Africa and was not the species of owl the real Karen Blixen kept".


"Tengmalm's Owl, Aegolius funereus, is a small owl. It is known as the Boreal Owl in North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae. This bird is named after the Swedish naturalist Peter Gustaf Tengmalm."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boreal_owl

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Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!
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[Prehistoric] "The Devastating Smilodon" Postage from Zazzle.com

[Prehistoric] "The Devastating Smilodon" Postage from Zazzle.com

This is the largest of all prehistoric saber-toothed cats - 1.6 meters tall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilodon_populator

The second-biggest owl in the world: The Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) - maximum card from Romania

Some say that it can swallow a hedgehog whole.

Aw, come on!

Why scratch its GI tract?

Moral of the story: don't do something  just because you can. Eventually, it may hurt you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubo_bubo

Would you like to see what countries have issued stamps with this bird?

Visit a superb website:

http://www.birdtheme.org/species/imagespage.php?spec=771&fl=B

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Happy Postcard Friendship Friday! :) 

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Not the true Devil [if there is a true one]: Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) - official maximum card from Australia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tasdevil_large.jpg

He's got the Devil in his eyes?...or maybe in his menacing screech/growl/yawn?

"The size of a small dog, but stocky and muscular, the Tasmanian devil is now the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world after the extinction of the thylacine in 1936. It is characterized by its black fur, pungent odour when stressed, extremely loud and disturbing screech, and ferocity when feeding. It is known to both hunt prey and scavenge carrion and although it is usually solitary, it sometimes eats with other devils."

You have no idea how many devils are out there, growling in the dark, in the dead of the night...:)

If you search the Internet for who has the strongest bite of any animal (not just mammals), you'll discard bogus answers like Pelosi, Lovelace, Tyson, etc., and you'll see that other contenders are the extinct marsupial lion, the great white shark and some crocodilian, either crocodile or alligator.

"Spotted Hyenas have a strong bite proportional to their size, but the view that they have the strongest bite is a myth; and a number of other animals (including the Tasmanian devil) are proportionately stronger"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyena

"An analysis of mammalian bite force relative to body size shows that the devil has the strongest bite of any living mammal, over 5,100 psi (35,000 kPa).^[9] The power of the jaws is in part due to its comparatively large head."

A devilish scheme?
" Devils are not monogamous, and females will mate with several males if not guarded after mating."
The Guardian takes it all, unless he loses control.


The race to get a secure, continuous grip for 100 days: 20-30 newborn devils compete for 4 nipples in the pouch.
" Gestation lasts 21 days, and devils give birth to 20-30 young,^[8] each weighing approximately 0.18–0.24 grams.^[12]When the young are born, competition is fierce as they move from the vagina to the pouch. Once inside the pouch, they each remain attached to a nipple for the next 100 days. The female Tasmanian Devil's pouch, like that of the wombat, opens to the rear, so it is physically difficult for the female to interact with young inside the pouch. Despite the large litter at birth, the female has only four nipples, so there are never more than four babies nursing in the pouch; and the older a female devil gets, the smaller her litters will become.^[8] On average, more females survive than males.^[11]"


Whether you are a pharaoh/"deity" or a devil, inbreeding is always risky.


"Recent research from the University of Sydney has shown that the infectious facial cancer [devil facial tumour disease (DFTD)] may be able to spread because of vanishingly low genetic diversity in devil immune genes (MHC class I and II) — raising questions about how well small, and potentially inbred, populations of animals are able to survive.^[26]"
"Two "insurance" populations of disease-free devils are being established at an urban facility in the Hobart suburb of Taroona and on Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania. Captive breeding in mainland zoos is also a possibility".
^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_devil}