She's a beauty, isn't she? The impala, I mean.

The picture looks sooo National Geographic-esque... A shot of a graceful impala up close never fails to tug our hearts. Impalas are capable of leaping and bounding in order to avoid their predators in the African wildlife. They are fleet runners, who can leap a distance of about 10meters. No wonder we often see an image of a leaping impala as it typically jumps over anything in its path. That's really awesome. I wonder though if impalas do suffer from joint pains once in a while. I mean, they do a lot of running and leaping, don't they? Just kidding.

The bird sitting on top of the impala is called a red-billed oxpecker. What it does is it clambers on their hosts and search for ticks and blood-sucking insects and flies that infest their hides. The red-billed oxpeckers doesn't only do this "cleaning service" to impalas but also extends to rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, and other game animals.   

I find it really awesome to see two species in one picture. This postcard, in my opinion, best exemplifies the great symbiotic --- give and take -- relationship of nature.

Now on to the stamp... 

The black-striped Hairtail butterfly, anthene amarah, is featured on this 5pula definitive stamp. It's part of the 14-set of butterfly stamps issued in 2007.