On March 18, 2021 the State Committee of Information Technology and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic puts into circulation a series of Kyrgyz Express Post postage stamps: “Kyrgyz Republic Red Data Book (III). Fishes”.
Although Kyrgyzstan is a predominantly mountainous country with no access to the sea, its ichthyofauna is quite rich and diverse. There are 107 species and subspecies of fish in the country's lakes and rivers, among which many are endemic or subendemic. In Lake Issyk-Kul alone, there are eleven endemic fish species. The following species, listed in Kyrgyz Republic Red Data Book, are represented on KEP stamps:
- Issyk-Kul Marinka (Schizothorax issykkuli);
- Eastern Ostroluchka (Capoetobrama kuschakewitschi);
- Turkestan Catfish (Glyptosternon reticulatum);
- Pike Asp (Aspiolucius esocinus).
The First Day Cover depicts the Chatkal bullhead (Cottus jaxartensis).
A negative impact on the number and diversity of Kyrgyzstan's aquatic fauna is caused by several human factors, such as: reservoir pollution, irrigation, poaching and the introduction of alien species. As a result, many fish species in Kyrgyzstan are very rare and need urgent protection and conservation measures.
Kyrgyz Express Post expresses its appreciation to the hydrobiologist Mariia Cherniavskaia for her advice in preparing this
stamp issue.
For this series, KEP also issues four postcards, which are used to realize four maximum cards.
