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Bottlenose
dolphin Tursiops
truncatus - the common bottlenose dolphin is around 3M
long, weighs up to 500kg and feeds on eels, squid, shrimp and wide
variety of fish. They are found in the warm and temperate tropical
oceans worldwide, in pods averaging 15 individuals. Generally offshore
populations are larger, darker, and have proportionally shorter fins
and beaks. They can migrate up to 4,200 kilometres in a season and it
is estimated that two million are found in the eastern Pacific (a
decrease of 7 million from the 1950s). 
Spinner
dolphin Stenella
longirostris - this dolphin occurs in all tropical and
subtropical waters between 40°N and 40°S. The species is
usually associated with inshore waters, however, in the eastern
tropical Pacific, they live hundreds of miles from the nearest land.
The spinner is a long and slender species ranging from 125–250 cm and
reaching a body mass of 25–80 kg. Well known for their acrobatics and
aerial behaviours, their spinning behaviour is believed to be related
to breathing patterns, swimming energetics, play, hunting, removal of
ectoparasites, territory or acoustic communication. 
Fraser’s
dolphin
Lagenodelphis hosei - normally sighted in deep tropical
waters between 30° S and 20° N the Eastern Pacific is the most reliable
site for viewings. Reaching 2.75 metres and 200 kg at adulthood, they
have a stocky build, a small fin and conspicuously small flippers. They
also lack a prominent beak which is a distinguishing characteristic of
the dolphin. They swim quickly in large tightly packed groups of about
100 to 1000 in number, often chopping up the water tremendously. The
species feeds on pelagic (open sea) fish, squid and shrimp found 200
metres to 500 metres below the surface of the
water. Virtually no sunlight penetrates this depth, so
feeding is carried out using echo location.
Spotted
dolphin Stenella
attenuata - found across all tropical and sub-tropical
waters around the world between 40° N and 40° S, the total population
is in excess of three million. Lifespan is approximately 40 years. This
dolphin is very active and often leaps from the sea and bow-rides. The
pantropical spotted dolphin's propensity for associating with yellow
fin tuna, particularly in the eastern Pacific, has in recent history
been a very real danger. Over a period of about 25 years, 75% of this
region's population, and over half the world's total, was wiped out.
The issue received wide, public attention. According to a study
reported in October 2008, negative impacts from fishing
activities remain, despite broad “dolphin safe” practices.
Pitcairn
joined other Pacific nations in 2009 by signing a Memorandum of
Understanding, which protects whales and dolphins in its region. The
signing will mean whales and dolphin have a greater protection in
waters of the South Pacific territory. The Pacific Cetaceans Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) is an arrangement under the Convention on
Migratory Species, which has 110 member countries. With the recent
addition of Pitcairn Island and its 800,000 sq km exclusive economic
zone to the list of signatories, the MoU now covers over 10 million sq
km of the Pacific Ocean, from PNG to French Polynesia and Pitcairn.
Signatories agree to work together for the conservation of whales and
dolphins in the Pacific, and to take collaborative action to address
threats such as hunting, by-catch in fishing operations, entanglement
in marine debris, ship-strike, pollution and the impacts of climate
change.
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| Single set of 4 stamps | $7.60 | |
| Miniature sheet with 2 stamps | $4.50 | |
| First Day Cover with 4 stamps | $9.10 | |
| First Day Cover with Miniature Sheet | $6.00 | |
| Gutter pair | $15.20 | |
| Corner Block of 4 | $30.40 |
| Designer: |
J R Lisiak, Noisy le Grand, France | Pitcairn
Stamps proudly brought to you by:  |
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| Printer: | Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand |
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| Process: | Offset Litho | ||
| Stamp size: | 40.6 mm x 35.0 mm, 4 single stamps and 2 stamps repeated within miniature sheet | ||
| Sheet Format: | Die-cut miniature sheets (140mm x 90mm) horizontal | ||
| Perforation Gauge: | 14.28 x 14.28 |
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| Denominations: | Stamps $1.00, $1.50, $2.10, and $3.00 | ||
| Paper: | 103gsm Tullis Russell yellow-green phosphor stamp paper |
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| Period
of
Sale: |
26 April 2012 for a
period of 2 years |