Tanzania issued this attractive set in 2008 to show some of the large animals that live on the plains of that gigantic country. Here is the full set, mint unhinged, and in pristine condition.

Animals shown are:

400 sh ... Zebra, wildebeest & gnu grazing.

600 sh ... Lion & lioness.

700 sh ... Lioness of Manyara, descending from tree.

800 sh ... Giraffes.

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The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. Its species name refers to its camel-like appearance and the patches of color on its fur. Its chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs, its horn-like ossicones and its distinctive coat patterns. It stands 5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall and has an average weight of 1,600 kg for males and 830 kg for females. Please do not park your car near one, as your insurance may not like it if it happens to sit on you!

Zebras are African equids (horse family) united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and asses, zebras have never been truly domesticated.

There are three species of zebras: the plains zebra, the Grévy's zebra and the mountain zebra. The Grevy's resembles an ass, to which it is closely related, while the former two are more horse-like. All three belong to the genus Equus, along with other living equids.

The unique stripes of zebras make them one of the animals most familiar to people. They occur in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, thorny scrublands, mountains, and coastal hills. However, various anthropogenic factors have had a severe impact on zebra populations, in particular hunting for skins and habitat destruction.

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