Thursday, August 30, 2012

Wildlife in Norway V - 2010


Regularly Norway Post issued the fifth of stamp set features wildlife on January 2, 2010. The issue comprise of 3 postage stamps with vary nominal value. The depicted species of wildlife are Otter (Lutra lutra), Lemming (Lemmus lemmus), Norwegian wolverine (Gulo gulo).

NO002-10
The Otter (Lutra lutra), with its long, streamlined body, is a better swimmer than most other land mammals. Unlike sea mammals, however, it has to surface often to breathe. Most dives last for less than 30 seconds. 

Fish are its most common prey, but it also hunts shellfish, amphibians and birds. Adult males weigh 6-12 kg and have a body length (minus tail) of about 70 cm. The otter can reach an age of 18 years.

They are most common in coastal areas in central and northern Norway.  The stock was then greatly reduced, but has gradually picked up again.
 
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The Lemming (Lemmus lemmus) is a small, compact rodent, about 7-15 cm long. Its ears are hidden under its long coat and its tail is short. It is a herbivore, eating mostly moss and grass.

In captivity it can live until the age of 3. Lemmings prefer the open landscape above the tree line and the upper birch forests. In the south of Norway they therefore live in mountain areas, while in the north they go almost all the way down to the sea.

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The Norwegian Wolverine (Gulo gulo) is dark brown, often verging on black. A male wolverine can be about 100 cm long and weigh 25-30 kg. Wolverine can live to the age of 17.

A wolverine’s paws are large for its size and well adapted for life on snow and soft marshland.
Wolverines occur almost continuously in the mountain areas along the Swedish border down to Femunden in the south and are very common in Troms.

In Norway its primary food is reindeer, but it also eats foxes, hares, hedgehogs, small rodents and grouse. Until 1973, when it was placed under protection in southern Norway, the wolverine was a game animal with a price on its head. It has been under total protection since 1982.


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