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Known
for their annual migration breeding patterns, the round-trip distance
this species travels is approximately 10,000 km., with the northern and
southern hemisphere migrations working in opposite directions. Humpback
whales become reproductively mature when they are between 4 and 8 years
of age; mate and give birth during their winter migration to warmer
waters. At birth, calves are approximately 4 metres long, weigh 2,000
kg., and require 600 litres of milk each day. After weaning the calf
has doubled its length and has increased its weight five times. 
They
generally prefer near shore and near-island habitats for both feeding
and breeding with their 22-36,000 kg weight requires between 700 and
1,500 kg of food a day consisting mostly of plankton, krill and small
fish, which they consume via filtering system.
Using
these wings, humpbacks have become renowned for their various acrobatic
displays such as breaching where the whale generates enough upward
force with its powerful flukes to lift approximately two-thirds of its
body out of the water in a twisting motion. Breaching is believed to
relate to courtship or play activity. Another interesting behaviour exhibited is singing. The "songs" of humpbacks are made up of complex vocal patterns. 
All
male whales within a given area and season seem to use the same songs
and it is thought that males sing to attract mates, or to communicate
among other males of the pod. A pod refers to a social group of whales
which consists of three to fifteen whales and never more than one calf.
The
current world population for humpback whales is estimated to be between
5,000 and 7,500 but like most whale species, the humpback is threatened
by commercial whaling and marine pollution. Because of their tendency
to frequent coastal waters, and their habitual return to the same
regions each year, humpback whales have been internationally exploited
by commercial whalers. In addition the depletion of the ozone
layer has affected the phytoplankton and krill that whales feed on,
Greater protection of the world's oceans is vital to provide a liveable
habitat for whales, as well as the providing of international
protection through the International Whaling Commission and CITES.
Pitcairn forms the eastern boundary of the proposed South Pacific Whale
Sanctuary currently being proposed by Australia and New Zealand, which
would protect the breeding grounds of most of the migratory species
found in the region. The proposed sanctuary would stretch from Papua
New Guinea in the west to Pitcairn Island and French Polynesia in the
east, and from Fiji and Tonga in the south to the Equator.| $1.50, $3.50 | Single Set | $5.00 |
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buy |
| Miniature Sheet with 2 stamps | $5.00 |
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buy |
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| First Day Cover with 2 stamps | $6.00 |
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buy |
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| FDC with Miniature Sheet | $6.00 |
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buy |
| Designer : |
JR 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 : | 37.5mm x 26.00mm | ||
| Format : | 2 horizontal stamps in panes (2 x 25) plus die cut mini sheet with 2 horizontal |
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| Mini Sheet Size : | 125mm x 90mm horizontal | ||
| Perforation Gauge : | 14.4 x 14.6 |
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| Denominations : | $1.50 and $3.50 | ||
| Paper : | 104gsm non phosphor gummed stamp paper |
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| Period
of
Sale : |
22 November 2006 for a period of 2 years |