Stamps Wiki:EUROPA2021/9

Ireland

EUROPA - Endangered National Wildlife

6 May 2021

On 6 May An Post issued two new stamps celebrating Ireland’s rich and rare natural wildlife as part of the EUROPA series.

Endangered national wildlife broadly refers to species that are threatened with extinction. In Ireland, the Wildlife Act is the principle mechanism for the legislative protection of species that have significant conservation value.

The stamps features the Freshwater Pearl Mussel which is on the verge of extinction in Ireland and western Europe. It is a large filter-feeding bivalve, which is found in near-pristine freshwater habitats. These animals are extremely long-lived and are capable of surviving for up to 140 years, making them Ireland's longest living animal. Adult mussels can reach lengths of 12 - 15 cm, and live buried in the river bed. Freshwater Pearl Mussels are filter feeders, inhaling and expelling up to 50 l of water per day, while retaining food particles.