To further propagandize for the conservation and protection of this endangered mammal, On the first of August, 2007, the Vietnam’s Ministry of Posts & Telematics (MPT) issued the stamp series: “Animals in Con Dao National Park (Dugong)” consisting of 4 values with the denominations of 800d; 1,000d; 7,000d and 9,000d respectively.
Con Dao National Park is a natural reserve area on Con Dao Island, in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in coastal southeastern Vietnam. The park includes a part of the island and the surrounding sea. The national park is characterized by a diverse ecosystem. Many species of corals and especially the sea turtle and dugong are found here.The dugong's current distribution is reduced and disjunctive, and many populations are close to extinction. The IUCN lists the dugong as a species vulnerable to extinction.
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal which, together with the three species of manatee, is one of four extant members of the order Sirenia.
The dugong has a fusiform body with no dorsal fin or hind limbs, instead possessing paddle-like forelimbs used to maneuver itself. It is easily distinguished from the manatees by its fluked, dolphin-like tail, but also possesses a unique skull and teeth.
The dugong is heavily dependent on sea grasses for subsistence and is thus restricted to the coastal habitats where they grow, with the largest concentrations typically occurring in wide, shallow, protected areas such as bays, mangrove channels and the lee sides of large inshore islands. Its snout is sharply down turned, an adaptation for grazing and uprooting benthic sea grasses.
Due to the hunting and environmental fluctuations, the Dugong population presently remains very low. Con Dao National Park has been taking positive measures to protect this valuable and rare mammal.
Also the officially first day cover issued in two covers which depicted dugong in the bottom left corner . The covers sealed with two stamp, and four stamps respectively with special postmarked.
In 2006, a delegation of UNESCO Vietnam representatives surveyed the area and concluded that the Con Dao park is eligible to be a natural-cultural mixture World Heritage.
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