The Taxidermy Industry Sectors
The word taxidermy is derived from the Greek words “taxis” and “derma”. Taxis means “to move”, and “derma” means “skin” (the dermis).
Traditionally taxidermists handled the full spectrum of the treatment process, and most taxidermy facilities resemble a factory-like facility where all aspects are taken care of, and game trophies receive a complete treatment to ensure their preservation for display or study.
The mounting of trophies is a highly specialized art, and many Taxidermists specialize in the mounting of trophies only, and prefer to contract the preparation of the skins and horns to specialist companies.
Some taxidermists specialize in one or more aspect of the taxidermy process.
Taxidermy Treatment Entails That:
- Skins have been fully tanned and processed so that they can be mounted or displayed, e.g., full skin, flat skin, back skin
- Skulls (bones), horns/ antlers, hooves, claws, and teeth have been fully processed and mounted in some manner for display, e.g., skull & horns on shield (European mount), a tusk set, an articulated skeleton or as part of a mounted animal.
- The animal trophy has been mounted in a life like manner – e.g., full mount, half mounts, shoulder mounts.
Industry Definitions:
Taxidermy
“Taxidermy” is a collective noun for various aspects and processes of the industry that seeks to preserve animals for various purposes. Animals are often, but not always, portrayed in a lifelike form. Some facilities or individuals specializes on certain aspects of the process, while others offer a full range of taxidermy and associated services.
Taxidermy is also used to describe a facility where game trophies receive a complete treatment to ensure their preservation for display or study
A taxidermy studio is where the artist creates the moulds, mounts the trophy, and completes the finishes.
A taxidermist is theoretically any person who practices any form of taxidermy, but most often this term is applied where animals are mounted in a life like manner – e.g., full mount, half mounts, shoulder mounts. The mounting of trophies is a highly specialized art and the person is technically known as a mounter. There are various job titles in the different categories such as “Tanner”, “Mounter”, “Shaver and “Artist”
Taxidermy is both an art form, and a process that require different skills.
Game Skin Tanning
Tanning is the process of treating skins and hides of animals to preserve the skins either with hair on, or to produce leather. Skins are fully tanned and processed so that they can be mounted or displayed, e.g., full skin, flat skin, back skin.
A tannery is the place where the skins are processed making them more durable and less susceptible to decay.
Tanneries in the Taxidermy industry usually focus on “hair-on”, or fur tanning. This is a process whereby the hide / skin is tanned whilst the hair remains intact.
The tanning process involves many stages where the skins are treated using animal, plant, mineral and/or chemical products (tannins). These are acidic chemical compounds that stabilise the fiber structure of the skin and prevent it from decaying, decomposing and oxidizing.
Once tanned, depending on the application and specific customer requests, the hide can be cut and placed on leather, felt or other materials. Skins may also receive a full leather tan. Leather may be dyed, ironed, sanded, oiled etc. There are endless variations.
The profession is called tanner.
Skulls / Horns / Bones / Skeletons
The cleaning and processing by using various means, including boiling and/or use of chemicals or beetles as part of the taxidermy process and then (sometimes) mounting animal bones, horns and skulls, in some manner for display. E.g. skull & horns on shield (European mount), a tusk set, as part of a mounted animal or for manufacture of products
Skeletons may be articulated, which means all sections are connected to their proper joints or location and secured to stand on its own. Skeletons are mainly used for museums and education but also in décor or as art.
Dip & Pack
(Also known as Dip & Ship). A facility that performs initial game trophy treatment, the minimum required, veterinary prescribed procedures, prior to export of such items to another country to receive the final taxidermy process there.
Products – Merchandise
- leather
- curios
- clothing – shoes/ handbags/ jewellery
- décor and furniture
- knives
- arts and crafts
- Cultural and traditional uses – including “Muthi” and traditional clothing
Auxiliary Services
- Freight: Transportation – local/overseas
- Woodworking – building of crates and shields
- Administrative Services – e.g. obtaining of permits for export and transport
- Chemicals for use in process
- Artificial components such as eyes/ tongues/ teeth
State Veterinary Registration/Facilities
High Risk Facility
Means a Taxidermy or Dip & Pack facility which handle trophies that are deemed to pose an increased disease risk as they are imported from countries with either a known disease risk, or with an unknown disease risk status, or originate from areas under veterinary restriction due to outbreaks of disease or from veterinary restricted zones such as FMD infected areas.
Low Risk Facility
Means a taxidermy or dip & pack facility which handles trophies that are deemed to pose a low risk, including trophies originating from areas in South Africa that are not under any restriction due to animal diseases, trophies imported from countries that are known and proven to be free from diseases of concerns, such as FMD, and trophies that are irradiated directly after importation into South Africa.
No Registration
Means a taxidermist that has not (yet) registered with the State Veterinary.
Such facilities are often start-ups or hobbyists. They are restricted in the type of products that may be exported.