US Stamps 2017 Sharks 5 Sheets of 20

US Stamps 2017 Sharks 5 Sheets of 20 Issued in the middle of Discovery channels famous Shark Week television special (held July 23-30 in 2017) Why the stamps were issued: To commemorate five species of shark that call our oceans home. About the stamp designs: Each stamp pictures a different species of shark on an ocean-blue background: shortfin mako, whale, pelagic thresher, scalloped hammerhead, and great white. Original artwork by Sam Weber. First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Newport, Kentucky, home to Newport Aquarium and its Shark Central exhibit. History the stamp represents: Sharks are one of the most important parts of the oceans ecosystem. But overfishing, finning, and other human activities have led to a drastic decrease in numbers. Many species are now at risk of extinction and conservationists are urging people worldwide to help protect these extraordinary creatures. Two of the leading organizations in the fight for sharks are Discovery Channel and OCEARCH. In 1988, Discovery created a yearly television special called Shark Week to promote conservation and help address common misconceptions about sharks. New shows are featured annually and the special is an unbelievable success, becoming the longest-running television event in history. OCEARCH, on the other hand, focuses on field work collecting data on different sharks. They have held expeditions in Cape Cod, Australia, South Africa, and more. In each location, they capture sharks, tag them with satellite trackers, and collect samples for research. They also created a shark tracker allowing the public to follow each sharks position in real time. Some sharks even have social media profiles that update with each new location. Thanks to groups like Discovery and OCEARCH, people understand more about sharks and are much less fearful of them. In 2017, the US Postal Service released five shark stamps during Discoverys Shark Week. All five species pictured on the stamps (shortfin mako, whale, pelagic thresher, scalloped hammerhead, and great white) are vulnerable to extinction. But as more people devote themselves to protecting sharks, population declines are beginning to slow down. While there is still a long way to go, if trends continue, these amazing creatures will be around for many years to come. The condition of the stamp is as shown in the image and is suitable for paying postage or collecting.