S16 1964 Kouprey

Issued on March 2nd, 1964, the three-stamp ” Kouprey ” series immortalizes Cambodia’s national animal ( Bos sauveli ) following Prince Norodom Sihanouk’s royal decree protecting the elusive wild bovine / wild ox. Designed to champion environmental stewardship and signal Cambodia’s commitment to global conservation, this issue elevated the rare species into a proud symbol of state identity. Though the Kouprey is now critically endangered and likely extinct, this set endures as a poignant philatelic monument to Sangkum-era ecological consciousness and national heritage.