Last week, President Biden signed the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act into law, paving the way for the U.S. Postal Service to continue selling Save Vanishing Species Stamps, also known as “Tiger Stamps” for their depiction of an Amur tiger cub.
Tiger Stamps are the first and only USPS stamps to raise funds for international wildlife conservation. Sixty million Tiger Stamps have been sold so far, raising nearly $7 million for wildlife.
Tiger Stamps are sold at a rate slightly higher than normal first-class stamps. USPS transfers the proceeds to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a quarterly basis. From there, our International Affairs Program divides the funds among the congressionally mandated Multinational Species Conservation Funds to support elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes and lesser apes, marine turtles, and now also tortoises and freshwater turtles.
The law signed by President Biden on May 16, 2022, ensures that the USPS will continue selling the Tiger Stamp until the last one is sold: Forty million more stamps. This translates into direct support – at no additional cost to the U.S. taxpayer – for some of the most iconic species on Earth. With every stamp sold, it’s also a confirmation of how important these international species are to the American people. And for that, we are immensely grateful.
3 Reasons Why You Should Use Save Vanishing Species Stamps
1. You can help save some of the most beloved species on Earth by taking a small action.
When you buy these stamps, a portion of the proceeds goes directly to conserving endangered species around the world, including tigers, great apes, sea turtles, rhinoceros, and elephants. Sixty million Tiger Stamps have been sold so far, raising nearly $7 million for wildlife for high-impact projects such as building a clinic for injured tigers, reintroducing orphaned orangutans to the wild, and outfitting rangers with better vehicles and facilities to stop rhino poachers.
2. It’s cool to be different, and there is no other stamp like them.
While you can’t deny the reality that texting, emailing, and chatting have become common ways that we communicate with each other, the tactile sensation and excitement generated by getting an old-fashioned letter or postcard in the mail from a friend or family member can’t be denied. And sometimes while you might have to use the stamps that you have on hand, using the Save Vanishing Species stamp will give your letter that extra “it” factor and will make it a conversation starter. In fact, the stamp is the first in the history of the U.S. Postal Service to raise funds for conservation.
3. They make great gifts.
For the wildlife enthusiasts you know, the Save Vanishing Species Stamp can be an excellent gift that brings a smile to their faces. It’s practical, something they are likely to use, doesn’t take up a lot of space, and it will even encourage them to pick up a pen and paper and spread the love.
