Released from Botswana on June 7, 1977, this First Day Cover features endangered species. It carries the logo of the World Wildlife Fund.
The Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) has a fore foot which closely resembles the human hand. With very short webbing and fingers which lack claws, the "hands" of the otter are used quite skillfully.
Distributed throughout much of Africa, as well as Botswana, is the Serval (Leptailurus serval). This medium-sized, long-legged cat is most prevalent in moist savanna habitats.
On the protected list for some time now is the African bat-eared Fox (Octocyon megalotis). This species arose from the same ancestral stock as the racoon dog, and has been known to be domesticated and may even accompany humans in the wild, keeping a short distance between the two.
A peculiarity among present-day mammals is the Pangolin (Manis). Among the characteristics which set the Pangolin apart from other mammals are the shingle-like overlapping scales which cover the body and its lack of teeth.
