2002 Philatelic Issues

Nature Conservation - World Wildlife Fund

On May 25th, 2002; Ukraine issued a block of four (4) stamps in honour of the World Wldlife Fund.

The stamps show the Leopard snake (Elaphe situla) from different positions.

This snake is native to the various European countries of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Malta, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Ukraine

This magnificent creature is readily identifiable by its reddish, dark-edged markings, which it retains unaltered since the juvenile stage. A medium sized, fairly slender snake, it can reach a length of up to 1 meter (approx. 3 ft) at maturity.

Adults feed almost entirely on small mammals, especially rodents, which they frequently constrict, while young specimens eat lizards. It is largely a ground-dwelling snake, mainly active by day, but also seen at dusk. It is often encountered in gardens and around barns and houses.

The "Leopard Snake" goes in hibernation during the fall, when the temperature begins to drop, and reproduces during the spring, usually laying four eggs.

A pictorial cancellation was used for the First Day of Issue cover. Cancellation was done in Kyiv.