Save Vanishing Species Semipostal Stamps
The U.S. Postal Service is helping to save vanishing species 11 cents at a time. The net proceeds from the sales of its Save Vanishing Species semipostal stamps (featuring tigers, African and Asian elephants, rhinos, great apes and marine turtles) will be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the Multinational Species Conservation Funds.
The tiger stamp was dedicated at the National Zoo's Great Cats exhibit on September 20, 2011. The Save Vanishing Species semipostal stamps sell for 55 cents each—11 cents more than an individual first-class mail stamp—and $11 per sheet of 20.
Order the tiger stamp.Only 3,200 tigers remain in the wild. The Global Tiger Initiative and the Smithsonian’s Tiger Conservation Partnership are among the collaborative efforts to save tigers. 
Learn about the Smithsonian’s Tiger Conservation Partnership.
National Zoo Conservation Stamps
The National Zoo is proud to offer customized stamps celebrating and supporting conservation programs at the Zoo. The stamps depict animals with an amazing conservation story from the Zoo. A portion of the proceeds benefits conservation programs at the Zoo.
Get Zoo Stamps
Stamps are available for purchase on our website and at the Zoo's stores.
Orangutan
The world's largest tree-dwelling animal, the orangutan relies upon its intelligence and well-adapted body to survive in the tropical rainforest. Once widespread in Asian tropical forests, orangutans now live only on Sumatra and Borneo, where forest loss is the greatest threat to their existence. Young orangutans may nurse until age six, and stay close to their mothers until the next offspring comes along. Four Sumatran-Bornean hybrid orangutans and two Bornean orangutans live at the Great Ape House and Think Tank.
Asian Elephant
Asian elephants are endangered in the wild, where perhaps only 30,000 still live in forests of south and southeast Asia. They are endangered in North American zoos, too. That's why the 2001 birth of Kandula, the result of artificial insemination, was such a triumph. Kandula is named for the most famous elephant in Sri Lanka's history. The original Kandula was known for his courage, strength, and loyalty. Three Asian elephants live at the Zoo’s Elephant House: Kandula, Shanthi, his mother, and Ambika.
Giant Anteater
On March 12, 2009, Cyrano, a giant anteater, was born at the National Zoo to mother, Maripi, and father, Dante. He is only the second giant anteater to be born here in the history of the Zoo. The largest of four anteater species, the giant anteater may be five to seven feet long, from nose to tail, and weigh 40 to 100 pounds. Giant anteaters are native to the grassland savannas, swamps, humid forests, and woodlands between southern Belize and northern Argentina. Visit Maripi and Dante at the National Zoo, across from Lemur Island and the Great Meadow.
Golden Lion Tamarin
Golden lion tamarins are an endangered species native to Brazil's Atlantic coastal forest. In the early 1970s, there were fewer than 200 of these small monkeys. Thanks to the National Zoo, other zoos, conservation organizations, and Brazil's government, there are now about 1,500 living in the wild. Several golden lion tamarins can be seen at the Small Mammal House.
Cheetah
Cheetahs live in small, isolated populations mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Until five or six weeks old, the cubs remain hidden; if she needs to move, the mother carries them from place to place. One female cheetah, Tumai, lives at the Cheetah Conservation Station. Giving hope to many, Tumai gave birth to a litter of four cubs on November 23, 2004. This was the Zoo's first ever litter of cheetahs. The following year, Zazi, a female that now lives at the Zoo’s Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, gave birth to five cubs.
Western Lowland Gorilla
Native to tropical forests of West and Central Africa, western lowland gorillas are critically endangered. They are primarily threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and fragmentation. The Zoo’s gorillas participate in a primate Species Survival Plan (SSP), in which North American zoos collaborate to encourage the development of a self-sustaining zoo gorilla population. Each SSP manages the breeding of a species to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population. On January 10, 2009, the Zoo welcomed Kibibi, a female western lowland gorilla—the Zoo’s seventh successful gorilla birth since 1991. Find out more.
Giant Panda
The giant panda are an endangered species. There are about 1,600 left in the wild. Giant pandas are native to a few mountain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. They once lived in lowland areas, but farming, forest clearing, and other development now restrict giant pandas to the mountains. At the Zoo, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are the second pair of pandas to live here. Both were born at the China Research and Conservation Center in Wolong, Sichuan Province. Together, they had one cub, Tai Shan, who was born here in 2005. Find out more.
Asian Elephant
Asian elephants are endangered. Fewer than 30,000 still live in forests of south and Southeast Asia. The National Zoo has a rich history of caring for and studying Asian elephants that spans more than a century. National Zoo scientists were the first to understand Asian elephant ecology in the wild and they now track one-third of all Asian elephants monitored using satellite technology. Using innovative tools, the National Zoo has developed artificial insemination techniques that are being used on national and international levels to improve birth rates. To ensure the future of these magnificent animals, the Zoo launched Elephant Trails, a campaign to save Asian elephants in the wild and to better care for them at zoos. Find out more.
Panamanian Golden Frog
Throughout the United States, only eight zoos breed Panamanian golden frogs. The Zoo, which has one of the largest holding facilities for these amphibians, has bred golden frogs in hopes of contributing to a reservoir of zoo genes that will help ensure their survival. Currently, more than 80 Panamanian golden frogs live at the Zoo in an off-exhibit temperature-controlled holding facility at the Reptile Discovery Center. Smithsonian scientists also believe that frogs’ skin holds benefits for humans as well. Smithsonian researchers are researching whether certain antiviral peptides in amphibians’ skin may prevent the transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus. Find out more.
Clouded Leopard
The Zoo’s clouded leopard breeding and research program is the only one of its kind. The National Zoo has worked with clouded leopards at its Conservation Research Center (CRC) in Front Royal, Virginia, since 1978. The Zoo is helping to breed these endangered cats in hopes of creating a genetically diverse population. In March 2009, one of CRC’s clouded leopards gave birth to two male cubs—the first such births at the Zoo in 16 years, and the first clouded leopard cubs born under the North American Clouded Leopard Species Survival Plan in six years. In the wild, clouded leopards’ greatest threat are poachers who profit from selling the cats’ coveted pelts. Researchers have installed camera traps—tree-mounted and motion-activated camera—in order to record wildlife activity, and find footage of poachers in every roll of film. Clouded leopards are also hunted for food or to supply ingredients for the Chinese medicine trade. Find out more.
Scimitar-Horned Oryx
The scimitar-horned oryx is extinct in the wild due to illegal hunting and lack of a protected habitat. This oryx is the largest mammal to suffer this fate in the last 25 years. Leading an effort to reintroduce oryx into their natural Saharan habitat, the Zoo is building antelope herds at CRC, increasing research efforts, and educating local governments and people about the importance of wildlife conservation. The Zoo is also creating an 80,000-square-kilometer protected area in Chad and Niger where we can conserve endangered Saharan animals. Find out more.
Kirtland’s Warbler
Smithsonian scientists involved with the Kirtland’s Warbler Research and Training Project, now in its fourth year, are studying the bird’s little-known habits on the wintering grounds of Eleuthera (in the Bahamas) to better promote conservation efforts. They are also involved in the training of and outreach to Bahamian students. Overall, the project is helping to train and educate local biologists to protect the Bahamas’ birds and other biodiversity over the long term. Find out more.
