22nd September : World Rhino Day

 World Rhino Day

World Rhino Day is celebrated on September 22 and commemorates all five species of rhino found in Asia and Africa.

These brilliant beasts are known for their awesome, giant horns that grow from their snouts, hence they got their name from the Latin language, “Rhinoceros’, meaning “nose horn”. Javan and Indian rhinos have one horn, whereas the white, black, and Sumatran rhinos have two.

All five species are herbivores.  Rhinos are solitary animals and like to avoid each other. But some species, particularly the white rhino, may live in a group, known as a ‘crash’. Adult females are called 'cows', males are called ‘bulls'.  They’re very territorial, and mark out their area of land with poop! Yes,  each individual’s dung smells unique:-).

World Rhino Day was first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010. The following year, World Rhino Day grew into an international success, thanks to the efforts of two determined women Lisa Jane and Rhishja.

The two ladies found they shared a common goal of making World Rhino Day a day of celebration for all five species of rhino.  They worked together to make World Rhino Day 2011 an international success, both online and offline. Ever since World Rhino Day has grown to become a global phenomenon.

⦁ Javan Rhinos: Critically Endangered (IUCN) - only 72 left

⦁ Sumatran rhinos: Critically Endangered (IUCN) - less than 80 left

⦁ Black rhinos: Critically Endangered (IUCN) - Between 5,366 and 5,627 left

⦁ White rhinos: Near Threatened (IUCN) - Between 17,212 and 18,915 left

⦁ Greater One-Horned Rhinos: Vulnerable (IUCN) - 3,588 left

I heard about one organization which is working towards saving Rhinos, 

https://www.savetherhino.org/get-involved/donate/

in case if you are interested in donating, please check the authentication.

The below stamps are issued by India Post in 2015

21st September : International Day of Peace

International Day of Peace

A United Nations resolution established the International Day of Peace (IDP) in 1981. The first Peace Day was celebrated in 1982 and was held on the third Tuesday of September each year till 2001.

The assembly decided to set a fixed day in 2001,  hence September 21 has become the permanent date for the IDP starting from 2002. By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged people to work in cooperation for this goal.  The assembly declared that the day should be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence day.

The symbol of 'International Peace Day' is the peace dove flying with an olive branch in its beak. In many religions, a white dove is generally a sign of peace. The dove can also represent “hope for peace” or a peace offering from one person to another, hence the phrase “to extend an olive branch”. Often, the dove is represented as 'still in-flight' to remind people of its role as messenger.

The below stamp is issued by India Post in 2005.

3rd Saturday, September: International Red Panda Day

 International Red Panda Day

The Red Panda Network launched International Red Panda Day in 2010. Since then, the third Saturday in September every year is celebrated as Red Panda Day.

They were discovered in 1825, 50 years before the giant panda.  Other names for the red panda include bear-cat, firefox, and the Himalayan raccoon (though they are not relatives).  Red pandas are the only living member of their taxonomic family.

Red pandas eat mostly bamboo, they eat about 20000 leaves each day.  They have gotten their name from the Nepali word "Ponya" which means bamboo or plant-eating animal.

Red pandas weigh between 12 to 20 pounds, which is about the size of a housecat. These adorable mammals are very skillful and acrobatic animals and they predominantly stay in the trees of the Himalaya Mountains. The Red panda’s popularity in Asia features them in cartoons and as team mascots. However, only about 10,000 red pandas live in the wild. Because of deforestation, poaching, and the illegal pet trade, red pandas are endangered.

We all can save them, by preserving their habitat and adopting them,  actually not literally, If we pay some money to the zoo or nature reserve, they will use that for their upkeeping, food, and other purposes.  I learned that RedPandaNetwork.org is one such network.

For our next family occasion, birthdays, etc. why don't we adopt one animal.

The below Red Panda stamp was issued by India post in 2009.

18th September : World Bamboo Day

World Bamboo Day

Bamboo is commonly known as 'Green Gold’ or 'Poor man's timber'. In recent years, bamboo’s image has undergone a remarkable transformation.

To promote Bamboo, a fast-growing plant with an amazing capacity of sequestering carbon-di-oxide, (which is the need of the hour), various organizations are working in their own way.  The notable internationally acclaimed one is the  World Bamboo Organization (WBO).  It was founded as the International Bamboo Association (IBA) in Thailand in 1991. Every 3-4 years the WBO organizes a World Bamboo Congress (WBC) to promote and create awareness.

In Bangkok, in 2009, WBC decided to celebrate 18th September, the day the meet happened, as a World Bamboo Day officially. Thereafter it is celebrated every year.

Bamboo is used as fuel, fiber, food, medicine, building materials.  It is also used in making musical instruments, cutleries, crafts, ornaments, furniture, garments,  paper industry, etc.  We can use it almost everywhere.

As an environmental enthusiast, I am using bamboo notebooks, brushes, spoon, fork, straws, and earbuds, as we use these things very often and in order to avoid plastics.  Which one are you going to replace with bamboo?

Below 3 Yuan bamboo stamp was issued by China.

Below stamp is made of Bamboo, issued by Taiwan post on 13/01/2016