WWF: Protecting the World's Wildlife for 45 Years

For the past 45 years, the World Wildlife Fund has been at the forefront of a worldwide effort to to save endangered species and their habitats. In honor of those efforts, St. Thomas has issued this colorful 9-stamp sheetlet commemorating co-founder Peter Scott and some of his friends. (Click the post title to order.) A noted British ornithologist, conservationist and painter, Sir Peter Scott (1909-1989) was the only child of Antarctic explorer Robert Scott. (Click the link for his Wikipedia biography.)

Particularly known for his study of wildfowl and wetlands, Scott is also remembered for giving the scientific name Nessiteras rhombopteryx to the Loch Ness Monster, allowing it to be registered as an endangered species. Based on a blurred underwater photograph of Nessie showing a supposed fin, the Greek-based name means the wonder of Ness with the diamond shaped fin. However, it's also an anagram of monster hoax by Sir Peter S!

As an extension of his conservation efforts, Scott co-founded the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on September 11, 1961 in Morges, Switzerland and designed its panda logo. "We shan't save all we should like to, but we shall save a great deal more than if we had never tried," he said at the time.

Today, WWF safeguards hundreds of species around the world. Using a science-based approach, it's efforts include conservation, research, restoration, education and advocacy. Through more than 1,200 field projects a year, WWF is "dedicated to stopping the degradation of the planet's natural environment and building a future in which humans live in harmony with nature," according to Wikipedia. For more information, visit WWF's website.

For trivia buffs: In 2000 WWF sued the World Wrestling Federation over the use of its acronym. When the suit was finally settled in 2002, the wrestling organization quietly changed its name to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

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