Bahamas releases their new stamp collection - Blainville's Beaked whales.

(taken from the Crown Agents Stamp Bureau News 23 January 2007)
The Bahamas Post Office have released a set of four postage stamps and also a special sheetlet containing 16 stamps featuring the Blainville Beaked Whale. The issue was released on 23rd January 2007 and the stamps also bear the logo of the world wide fund for nature.

Beaked whales are said to account for around a quarter of the world's whale and dolphin species. Little is known about Blainville's Beaked Whales and they are rarely seen. There is reputed to be a resident population in northern Bahamas waters as they prefer tropical and warm temperate water habitats in general and usually they are found in small groups of three to six.

There have been mass strandings of Blainville's Beaked Whales in the Bahamas which have been attributed to acoustic trauma resulting from nearby naval exercises.

It is only in the last few years that researchers have been able to study these elusive creatures at sea. They can grow up to 5 metres in length and, weighing more than a tonne, they are thought to feed on squid, deep sea fish and possibly sea urchins and starfish. They are able to stay submerged for up to 45 minutes and, fortunately for them, this species is of no commercial interest.

Design: Jonathan Pointer
Release Date: 23rd January 2007