Republic of Burundi
Burundi’s landscapes, from the shores of Lake Tanganyika to the Kibira National Park, provide habitats for rare and unique species.
Flora and Fauna
Burundi is home to eastern chimpanzees, which inhabit the forests of Kibira National Park, the country’s largest protected area. Other notable wildlife includes the red-tailed monkey, the blue monkey, and the African clawless otter, which thrives along Lake Tanganyika’s shores. The lake itself harbours endemic cichlid fish, found nowhere else in the world.
Burundi’s flora includes bamboo forests, once vital for the mountain gorillas that inhabited the region before disappearing in the 1970s. Today, mountain gorillas survive only in neighbouring Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Umuvugangoma tree, also known as the "drummer’s tree," is significant in Burundian culture. Along Lake Tanganyika, papyrus reeds dominate wetland areas. In higher altitudes, giant lobelias and tree ferns thrive in misty mountain forests.
Burundi’s National Flora and Fauna
- The great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) is Burundi’s national bird.
- The ibis tree (Hallea stipulosa), known locally as "Umuvugangoma," is considered Burundi’s national tree.
Although issued by Burundi, both the bird and orchid series feature foreign species, reflecting the global themes popular in stamp design of that era.
Issued 1970: Bird Series, block of 4 airmail miniature sheet – 8 franc, Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor), European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava), Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia).
Issued 1970: Bird Series, block of 4 airmail miniature sheet – 10 franc, Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Crested Lark (Galerida cristata).
Issued 1970: Bird Series, block of 4 airmail miniature sheet – 14 franc, Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator), Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus alpestris).
Issued 1970: Bird Series, block of 4 airmail miniature sheet – 20 franc, European Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Dunnock (Prunella modularis), Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis).
Issued 1970: Bird Series, block of 4 airmail miniature sheet – 30 franc, Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops), European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis).
Issued 1970: Bird Series, block of 4 airmail miniature sheet – 50 franc, Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus).
Issued 1972: Orchid Series – 8 franc, Christmas Orchid (Cattleya trianaei).
Issued 1972: Orchid Series – 13 franc, Slender Sun Orchid (Thelymitra pauciflora).
Issued 1970: Flower Series, airmail – 35 franc, Flame Lily (Gloriosa superba).
Issued 1992: Animal Series, airmail – 220 franc, Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus).