The United States Postal Service unveiled the Reptiles and Amphibians stamps at the Long Island Reptile Museum in Hicksville on Friday, Oct. 31. The stamps feature five digital illustrations by Steve Buchanan, including two amphibians and three reptiles: the blue-spotted salamander, the ornate chorus frog, the reticulate collared lizard, the ornate box turtle and the scarlet kingsnake.
The museum was an appropriate venue to unveil the stamps, as it has three of the five creatures depicted in the stamps in its collection of over 3,000 live reptiles and amphibians. Among the speakers were Hicksville Postmaster Edward Roggenkamp, LI Reptile Museum Director Steve Kates, Veterinarian Specialist in Exotics Dr. John Charos, Lt. Mike St. Jeanos of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police and renowned naturalist Peter Warney.
"I'm pleased and proud that they picked the Reptile Museum, because the focus of the museum here has always been to educate the public, especially children, and to teach them the importance of animals and the environment, and conservation of animals. And also to give children an opportunity to have a hands-on experience with reptiles and amphibians that they normally would not have," said Kates.
Roggenkamp, who along with Kates unveiled the stamps, said, "By commemorating these stamps, we not only bring awareness to the community about the need to preserve the ecosystem, but acknowledge the contributions of the people speaking here today, who have dedicated their lives to that preservation."
According to Dr. Charos, this awareness also bears other fruit. "This is what is so exciting about these stamps and this museum's mission. By exploring this unknown world of lizards, frogs and snakes, we learn more about ourselves and our world," he said.
The unveiling delighted fourth graders from Our Lady of Fatima School in Jackson Heights. Several of the creatures depicted on the stamps were available for the students to have hands-on contact with: the reticulate collared lizard, the ornate box turtle and the scarlet kingsnake.
Renowned naturalist Peter Warney, who amazed the children by carrying the lizard in his vest pocket, conveyed to them the joy of these creatures, as well as the splendor of the artwork depicted on the stamps. "When you get a letter and see these beautiful stamps, it will help you to be less afraid of things in nature and understand and appreciate that every animal has its place in the food chain and the web of ecology, " he said.
Those wishing to learn more about the stamps can visit the Postal Service website at
www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/ welcome.htm. Current U.S. stamps, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by toll-free phone order at 1-800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of stamps and other philatelic items are available at the online Postal Store at
www.usps.com/shop.
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