55p (L) : Southern Giant Petrel (南方巨鸌)
55p (R) : Gentoo Penguin (巴布亞企鵝)
27p : Humpback Whale (座頭鯨)
British Antarctic Territory (2009)
3rd December, 2009. Rothera Point, Adelaide Island
12th February, 2011. Hongkong
In July of 1955, ambassador of 12 countries has a meeting in Paris for the problem of Antarctic, whom agreed adjust the further observance activities and also gave up the territories demand. After more than 60 meetings from mid-1958, 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty on 1st December of 1959 ; and it was effective from 23rd June, 1961.
Today is the 50th anniversary of effective of the Antarctic Treaty, it seems successfully protected most of the Antarctica - the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude. Now total 46 countries signed and are members of the treaty, although 7 of members have territories demand.
Above cover affixed the stamps issued by BAT on 2009, to commemorate 50th anniversary of signature of the Antarctic Treaty. It sent from Rothera Station on 2009 ; spent more than year to dispatch its destination. Rothera is the northernmost research station in Antarctica of Great Britain survey.
3 of 6 stamps as above shown variety species to be found in this whited territory, Humpback Whale is one of the largest whale in the world, maximum one is in 18m wide. Although it is not endangered species, as illegal over hunting it listed in CITES of IUCN list. Southern Giant Petrel is a large seabird of southern oceans, it similarly to Northern Giant Petrel (北方巨鸌) but the activity area further south than northern one and in brown colour, the largest one measured in 99cm with a wingspan of 205cm. Gentoo Penguin is the third large penguin in its family, it actives whole Southern Ocean and its islands, also Falkland Islands and Chile. Now population is estimated to be over 300,000 pairs.
The cover originally with hand-illustration breeding King Penguins (國王企鵝), unfortunately it overlapped by those large stamps.
