Sunday, Nov 04, 2012
Dubai: Emirates Post has issued special stamps on Desert Snakes of the UAE in five denominations (Dh1, 1.50 Fils, Dh3, Dh4 and 5.50 Fils), along with a souvenir sheet of Dh25.
In association with Dubai Municipality’s Public Parks & Horticulture Department, Zoo Management, the stamps issued by Emirates Post feature the Arabian horned viper, the carpet viper, the Arabian rearfang, Sochurek’s saw-scaled viper and the sand boa.
“This is part of our move to spread awareness of the rich animal life in the desert and highlight the need to value and preserve it, for the larger benefit of environmental conservation,” said Ebrahim Bin Karam, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Post Group.
The snakes featured on the stamps includes the deadly 60 centimetre long Arabian Horned viper, the largest and heaviest among the vipers which feeds largely on rodents and birds and kills prey by injecting venom, and the Arabian rearfang, one of the largest semi-desert snakes which feeds on small rodents, lizards, bird chicks and even small snakes, and often resembles a ‘cobra.’
The carpet viper, another featured snake is the longest venomous land snake of the UAE measuring nearly 80 to 90 centimetres, and is restricted to the hills and foothills.
The UAE’s varied habitat supports a good variety of reptiles dominated by lizards and snakes.
By Jumana Khamis, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
