Water buffalo - Bubalus bubalis

Beautifully designed by A. Fekih, this stamp features the Ichkeul Buffalo, a unique species in North Africa. The illustration shows an imposing male in the foreground with its massive, crescent-shaped horns, while other individuals graze in the grassy marshes in the background. The Water Buffalo plays a major ecological role by maintaining the vegetation of wetlands, thus preventing the eutrophication of lakes. By giving it a value of 500 millimes, the Tunisian post office underlines the exceptional character of this herd, a true living heritage protected within the Ichkeul National Park.