NAMIBIA ~ Elephants - Etosha National Park ~

... Great NP postcard nr2💚 showing one of the most impressive, majestic animals on earth... a herd of African elephants🐘 in late afternoon light marching towards Charitsaub waterhole... there are around 2000 desert elephants in Etosha and are considered the tallest in Africa... these elephants of Etosha NP have successfully adapted to the desert conditions of the area... luckly Etosha elephants are little attractive to ivory poachers, as due to the lack of calcium in their nutrition in this very dry area around the Etosha salt pan, their tusks don’t grow to a very large size... Etosha National Park is unique in Africa... the park's main characteristic is a salt pan so large it can be seen from space... yet there is abundant wildlife that congregates around the waterholes, giving you almost guaranteed game sightings... Thanks a lot Alena!(✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: © Johan Steyn

The massive Etosha National Park is located in northwestern Namibia, in the country's Kunene region.

Etosha National Park spans an area of nearly 22.912 km².  The Etosha pan, which covers an area of approximately 5.000 km²  is 23% of the total area of Etosha National Park. 

The park is home to nearly 114 mammal species and over 340 bird species.

The word "Etosha" comes from a Ndonga word meaning "Great White Place." This refers to the Etosha pan, a 120km long dry lake bed which makes up a large part of Etosha National Park.

 

Stamp: 

Birds of Namibia

(Issued 15-02-2012)

SRI LANKA ~ Kandy Perahera Festival ~

... Beautiful decorated elephants....during the event, they’re presented as being “sacred animals” because they are transporting the sacred Tooth... Kandy Perahera, one of Asia's highly traditional and most spectacular parades, takes place in the Buddhist month of Esala, usually in August... with also  hundreds of dances performing traditional dancing, drummers carrying various types of drums, fire and people in traditional Kandyan dresses... considered one of the main tourist attractions and watched by about 500.000 people... I know it is tradition but I think the elephants don't feel so happy here... dressed up and with all that noise... Thanks a lot Ravindra!!【ツ】

The Kandy Esala Perahera festival also known as The Festival of the Tooth is one of the oldest Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka. It began as a procession that took place in the 4th century, when a relic – a tooth that was believed to belong to the Buddha – arrived on the island from India. The festival has taken place every August since 1754.

During the procession, up to 200 elephants wearing beautiful costumes take turns carrying the relic.

Stamp:

Visit of Gudrun Yngvardottir - Lions Clubs International President
(Issued 03-12-2018)

SRI LANKA ~ Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage ~

... Lovely view of a bathing elephant herd... ...🐘"The gentle giants of the jungle"🐘 .... this orphanage has had many mixed reviews about it... is it a tourist trap or a peaceful sanctuary??... after reading many articles about it I think it should be seen as a conservation project maybe not perfect but doing a lot of good work... there goal is to protect, rescuing and caring for the Sri Lankan elephant... an animal at the risk of becoming extinct... they saving baby elephants without their mothers... in most of these cases the mother had either died or been killed... the only problem is, they would not be able to survive if they go back in the wild...  you can follow the elephants' daily routine, including feeding time and their twice-daily bath in the local river... and to fund the conservation, tourism is necessary... Big Thanks dear Ravindra!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Photo: Juergen Schreiber - © Lasantha Lakmal
The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage was started in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife Conservation on a twenty five acre coconut property on the Maha Oya river at Rambukkana. When the orphanage opened in there were 5 elephants, now there are 88 of them.

Asian elephants are known to be one of the most gentle and intelligent mammals. There are three subspecies of Asian elephant – the Indian, Sumatran and Sri Lankan. The Sri Lankan is physically the largest of the subspecies, and also the darkest in colour. They can be identified by their small, rounded ears and are quite a bit smaller than their cousins, the African elephants. They are about 3.4 m tall, can weigh up to 5,400 kg. and consume about 200 kg of foliage and grass per day and plenty of water for drinking and bathing.

Stamps:

2X Pigeon Island Marine National Park
(Issued 22-08-2014)

SRI LANKA ~Kandy - Sri Dalada Perahera ~

...A unique symbol of Sri Lanka......magnificent elephant covered in lights carries the Golden Casket of what Buddhists believe is Buddha's tooth...with lovely matching elephant stamp... Many Thanks Ravindra!!

This historical procession is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.

The Dalada Perahera is believed to have begun when the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka from India during the 4th Century AD. King Kithsirimewan built a beautiful palace to enshrine the Tooth relic and began the annual perahera (procession) in honour of it.

The procession consists of many traditional local dances such as fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandyan dances and various other cultural dances, in addition to the elephants who are usually adorned with lavish garments.

Stamp:

Kumana national Park
 (Issued 26-01-2016)

INDIA ~ Periyar National Park - UNESCO ~

...Third fantastic National Park card from India...this time showing an elephant family...it must be awesome to see this "gentle giants of the jungle" in their natural habitat ツ....Thanks a lot kbdessai!

Photo: Manish Poddar The Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is situated high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in south Indian state of Kerala - known as the God's Own Country. Periyar wildlife sanctuary in Kerala has a scenic lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir runs around the contours of the wooded hills, providing water to the local wildlife through out the year. Though Periyar Kerala is a Tiger Reserve, tourists visit this place to view the Indian elephants in the act of sprinkling water and playfulness by the Periyar lake.

From backside card:
Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Mountains are a mountain range along the western side of India and one of the world's ten "Hottest biodiversity hotspots". A total of thirty nine properties (including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests) are designated as UNESCO WHS - 20 in the state of Kerala, 10 in Kamataka, 5 in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashta. Periyar National Park in Kerala is one such property.

Stamps:

Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti
(Issued 01-03-2009)
Flora - Wild Flowers of India 
(Issued 03-09-2013)

TANZANIA ~Serengeti National Park - Elephants - UNESCO

..fantastic  postcard showing one of the most impressive, majestic animals on earth...with great matching stamps of this "gentle giants"...  I saw on facebook a request  about donating some money to a charity called 'Hearts in Unity' and then receiving a postcard written by a Tanzanian child as a thank you.... I couldn't resist this offer, and the money went to a good cause anyway ♥...Thanks a lot Exaud-Amani... a 13 years old boy and a student in class six.

Photo © Javed Jaffarji The Serengeti is Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th world wide wonder. It is a wilderness area in Africa with a unique ecosystem and  its name meaning “endless plains” in the Maasai indigenous language, Maa. The Serengeti is best known for being home to the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world, which has been called one of the natural travel wonders of the world.

The African elephant is the largest mammal on earth. Elephants live in woodlands, forests, deserts and savanna, spread across 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Today, there are an estimated 450,000 - 700,000 African elephants.

With over 2000 elephants living in the Serengeti National Park, you are almost sure to see them while on safari.


Stamps:
Wild Animals of Africa
(Issued 28-10-2010)

SRI LANKA ~Elephants at Handapangala ~

A great new addition for my "elephant" collection...this place is popular among locals and foreigners as an elephants watching place because elephants gather to the tank every evening... It must be awesome to see this gentle giants in their natural habitat.... Thanks a lot Ravindra!!


With as usual really nice stamps.

©Dominic Sanson Handapanagala tank area is home for the largest Elephant aggregation in Wellawaya area during the dry season. Most of these Elephants come from different areas mainly from adjacent protected areas such as Yala, Udawalawe and Lunugamwehera National parks. The local migration is mainly due to lack of food and water within the protected areas.

The tank is full of water throughout the year and fed by the waters of Kirindi Oya.

SRI LANKA ~COLLAGE YALA NATIONAL PARK

This collage I made shows all 12 fabulous  animal postcards from the "Yala National Park" series!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Thank you sooooo much Ravindra♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

SRI LANKA ~Elephants - Yala National Park ~

...Today I received my last card from the series "Yala National Park"...another one  showing elephants... it was always such a great pleasure to find a new animal postcard  in my mailbox...I will miss it!...(received first one in August 2013)^^I got this whole set of amazing  postcards thanks to postcard friend Ravindra!!


 With as always great stamps!!

Yala Natinal Park is one of the best places for sightings of wild Elephants and is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants.

The elephant herd of Yala contains 300–350 individuals. Asian elephants, also known as Indian elephants are known to be one of the most gentle and intelligent mammals. They can be identified by their small, rounded ears and are quite a bit smaller than their cousins, the African elephants.

SRI LANKA ~Elephant - Yala National Park ~

Second great postcard from Yala National Park showing  elephants, this time an elephant family...
..."the gentle giants of the jungle" ...Many Thanks Ravindra!!!

 With nice matching elephant stamp.

(one of the six stamps of animals living in the park)
(Issued 28-07-2013

Yala National Park (also known as Ruhunu National Park) is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Actually it consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public; and also adjoining parks. It is situated in the southeast region of the country.

 Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938.

 Yala Natinal Park is one of the best places for sightings of wild Elephants and is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants. The elephant herd of Yala contains 300–350 individuals.

Asian elephants, also known as Indian elephants are known to be one of the most gentle and intelligent mammals. They can be identified by their small, rounded ears and are quite a bit smaller than their cousins, the African elephants.

SRI LANKA ~Elephant - Yala National Park ~

...Amazing postcard of one of the most magnificent and largest mammals on land... a giant elephant tearing down a tree as a snack...it must be awesome to see elephants in their natural habitat...
Can't thank you enough Ravindra for once again a fabulous postcard!! ^__^ (Yala National Park nr 3 )



With great stamp nr 4 of six new stamps selected with animals
living in the Yala National Park (Issued 28-07- 2013) to coincide with the completion of seventy five years of the network of Wild Life Reserves in Sri Lanka. -Hawksbill Turtle-Swamp Crocodile-Elephant-Black-necked Stork -The Wild Boar -The Spotted Deer.

Yala National Park (also known as Ruhunu National Park) is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Actually it consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public; and also adjoining parks. It is situated in the southeast region of the country.

Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938.

Yala Natinal Park is one of the best places for sightings of wild Elephants and  is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants. The elephant herd of Yala contains 300–350 individuals.

Asian elephants, also known as Indian elephants are  known to be one of the most gentle and intelligent mammals. They can be identified by their small, rounded ears and are quite a bit smaller than their cousins, the African elephants.

SRI LANKA ~Elephant bath time -Kandy ~

For me this is a very special postcard...it shows the same elephant, this time enjoying a bath on a great fountain... as on my first card ever received from Ravindra back in June 2009 when our friendship started...since than I received over 50 amazing postcards and discovered so much about "The Pearl of the Indian Ocean" ...and almost each card with a wonderful variety of stamps...
Many thanks Ravindra for nr 53!!! ^__^

Photo:© Devika Gunasena
Elephant being washed in Public Fountain.An elephant sprays itself water from a fountain ahead  in the ancient hill capital of Kandy.Kandy is located at the center of Sri Lanka and is generally recognized as the island nation's cultural capital. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This beautiful water fountain is situated at the “ Maha Maluwa “ end of Deva Veediya. This was erected by English coffee planters in 1875 to commemorate the Kandy tour of Prince of wales. John Smith company in Glasgow, England had casted it in iron and shipped to the country .

The Sri Lankan elephant is the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants, with patches of depigmentation—areas with no skin color—on its ears, face, trunk and belly.
The Sri Lankan elephant population has fallen almost 65% since the turn of the 19th century. Today, the Sri Lanka elephant is protected under the Sri Lankan law and killing one carries the death penalty.

SRI LANKA ~Uda Walawe National Park~

Another fantastic postcard from Sri Lanka...Postcards showing local wildlife are amongst my favorites (as many other^__^)...not so long ago I received a nice one with elephants from our Belgian zoo...but to see them in their natural environment is sooooo much better!
...I'm a bit jealous to read that you often pass this amazing place...I can only dream about it!! :D
Thanks so much Ravindra!!

And as always with great stamps!!

 Udawalawe National Park, established in the year 1972 is the sixth largest animal sanctuary of Sri Lanka and located 180 km from Colombo in south-central sector of the island.

 Udawalawe is the best place in Sri Lanka to see wild Asian Elephants throughout the year (and other rare plants and wildlife): there are about 500 elephants in the park and they often roam in herds of up to 100.

 The Udawalawe Elephant Transfer Home is an Elephant orphanage located within the Udawalawe National Park. Established in 1995 by the Department of wildlife Conservation, it is home to over 40 orphaned elephants. Once they are released to the park, the Park authorities take upon themselves to keep constant track of the beasts till they get used to the new life in the wild. As at the year 2008, no less than sixty-five elephants had been released to the jungle.

INDIA ~Mudumalai National Park - UNESCO (Tentative) ~

Today I received this great elephant postcard...It is so important that sanctuaries as Mudumalai exist to protect this amazing animal...
...But the cards looks as if before sending an elephant has trapped on it! :D:D...Don't mind I still like it... Thanks Nagi!

With nice stamps: Personalities Series-Veenai Dhanammal (Issued 3-12-2010) and Lakshmipat Singhania-Buisness Man (Issued 15-11-2010)

The Western Ghats mountain chain is older than the Himalayas and is recognised as one of the world's eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity. Its high mountain forests influence the Indian monsoon weather system and for this reason the Western Ghats are home to many species of wildlife that are not found anywhere else in the world, including at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.

The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains). Mudumalai, which means 'first hills’, is one of the first wildlife sanctuaries established in India. The park is most famous for its elephant population of around 950 to 1,000 elephants.

THAILAND ~Chiangmai~

And my third great card today comes from Thailand...I think it must be difficult to keep your balance standing on those bamboo rafts... And I just love views of elephants in their natural habitat!
With a set of wonderful stamps!




Rafters navigate their bamboo rafts allong shallow river.Ahead of them mahounts unhurriedly guide their elephants on their watery path.

INDIA ~Kerala~

Elephants are an integral part of the daily life in Kerala, India. The temple elephants are decorated with gold plated caparisons bells, and necklaces.

SRI LANKA ~Majestic Tusker~

What a great postcard day! :) Got three different continents; Europe with an overwhelming nature view of Scotland. The USA with a great lighthouse, the colors are giving the card a really special atmosphere... And last but not least a new country for my collection, Sri Lanka with a beautiful elephant card.... And also big thanks for all the amazing stamps on each of them!!


Feeding on Coconut Fronds- Kandy
A Tusker is an elephant that wear tusks ( they are unusually long teeth). The Indian elephant is the star of Sri Lanka's wildlife and the largest animal on the island.