How It Works - Life-form Taxidermy

The Taxidermy Process

Life-Form Taxidermy uses the finest materials imported from the best sources in the world, and no expense is spared to produce trophies of world-renowned quality. Have a look at the photo collection below to experience the taxidermy process.

Step 1

The skin enters the “fleshing” stage; commonly known as shaving.

Step 2

Skins are stitched & all scarring (imperfections) to be repaired.

Step 3

The skulls are cleaned for the next stage of production.

Step 4

Skulls are then dried.

Step 5

The molds are prepared

Step 6

During preparation of the skins, the manikins are produced according to the client’s demands.

Step 7

The taxidermy of the animal commences, the art of the taxidermy comes to life. The finer details will now be attended to, making it aesthetically & symmetrically pleasing to the eye.

Step 8

Quality Checks.

Step 9

The packing process. Each crate is customized according to the client’s needs, to ensure there is no wasted space.

Import And Export

150 000 exquisite trophies

With a proud record of producing over 150 000 exquisite trophies, you are in safe hands with Life-Form Taxidermy. Our in-depth understanding of African wildlife and its varied habitats is one of our greatest assets. With a team of experts who truly understand Africa’s wildlife – we can provide unique touches that will make your true-to-life trophy stand out.

Export

Address

U.S. CITIZENS: – USFW requires ALL export documentation to reflect your address in accordance with your social security number.

Should your delivery address differ from the above, please ensure that we receive the address to where you would like your trophies consigned. We also require your telephone, fax and email details where possible, as both we and the importing agents will require this information so that we may notify you of your consignment’s arrival as well as ease of communication.

Receipt of Dry Salted Trophies at Our Premises

Keep in mind that your professional hunter will still be required to dry and transport your trophies to our premises after you have returned home, and it may be a few months later when we receive them. We will contact you immediately upon receipt of your trophies. We would encourage you to correspond directly with us from then onwards, as we are more readily available, and your professional hunter will most likely be out in the field on his next safari and may not be easily contacted.

Rowland Ward and S.C.I. Measurers

We are official S.C.I. and Rowland Ward measurers and will measure trophies on request. Trophies entered for S.C.I. can be measured as soon as the animal has been hunted. As shrinkage occurs once horns start drying, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you request these measurements to be done in the field as soon as possible, so that you may obtain the most favourable score.

Payment

A 50% deposit is required prior to our team commencing production of your trophies. We will invoice you for the balance due once your order is nearing completion. We prefer to receive payment in U.S. Dollars, however if this is not possible we are also able to accept the following currencies: CANADIAN DOLLAR, AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR, BRITISH POUNDS, EUROS & SWISS FRANCS.

WE ALSO NOW OFFER CREDIT CARD FACILITIES

A telegraphic (S.W.I.F.T) transfer in the above currencies will also be suitable.

Freighting

Consignments may be sent by either Airfreight, which is the fastest available method, or Sea freight which takes slightly longer but is more cost effective. We make use of a Freight agent based in Gauteng who is well versed in the handling of game trophies, and well known to us. Should you prefer to nominate your own agent, please notify us so that we may accommodate this request. Freight charges are to be settled directly with the Freight agents.

Insurance

All consignments are insured for a suggestion value (an amount we consider would be required for us to replace and mount the entire order) this amount can be increased or decreased in relation to the trophy value and can also be waived entirely. In the event that you would like to specify the insurance value for your consignment, this value would be used for insurance purposes.

Charges Not Reflected On Our Price List

The charge for your crate, packing, documentation and transportation from our premises to Air/Sea Port of departure. This is calculated at a percentage of the total value of your order. Freight charges from Air/Sea Port of departure to the country of destination is payable directly to the Freight agent.

Import

Importation Of Game Skins From Neighbouring African Countries

As animal skins can be classified as perishable goods they must be treated accordingly. The care and treatment of skins and horns received prior to reaching Life-Form Taxidermy are beyond our control, and therefore we cannot be held responsible for these treatments. We will of course endeavour to treat all trophies with the utmost care, especially in the event that they would have travelled for many weeks, over great distances to reach our premises.

Our Suggestions:

Wherever possible arrangements should be made with outfitters, to ensure that they use A-Grade salt and avoid the re-use of salt too regularly, this will assist us in providing you with a better finished product. Please ask your outfitter to use any insecticides sparingly and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
We at Life-Form Taxidermy attempt to give our clients a comprehensive report on the condition of the actual skins at time of arrival, keeping in mind that these skins are folded outside-in and the true condition of a trophy skin can only be determined at time of actual mounting. We will then also make every effort to repair any damaged skins and where possible (with the clients agreement), will offer to replace damaged skins, to ensure a top quality trophy.

Insurance

While Life-Form does not arrange insurance directly with our customers, we can make arrangements via our nominated freight agent to coordinate insurance for the trophies whilst they are in transit.

PLEASE NOTE: Any time frame quoted or given commences from confirmation of your order.

Confirmation of your order is when your deposit is received and all mounting instructions are received. We prefer confirmation of your order in writing. Verbal instructions given to your professional hunter and passed on to us, or instructions received by phone can cause confusion, and unnecessary delays.

Packaging

We take pride in our packing

When planning your next safari, you’re most welcome to visit our studio and see how we operate in person. We take pride in our packing – with sturdy wooden crates that surpass international requirements, conforming to the current IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention).

Extreme care is taken throughout the packing process, and crates are sealed with indicated security screws and numbered seals to ensure that the trophies are delivered in perfect condition. Exportation by air and sea are available, with exportation by sea offering a +- 20% cost saving compared to airfreight.

Mozambique

Life-Form Taxidermy is the nearest veterinary-approved facility to the Mozambican border and has been importing trophies directly from Mozambique for the past 20 years. Batches of trophies are prepared and routed by road transport to our quarantine facility in South Africa.

This is a tested and proven process, of routing trophies out of Mozambique and once all paperwork is in order and once all inspections and clearances are carried out, all runs smoothly.

Break down of the Process of exporting trophy items out of Mozambique into our Studio in South Africa.

Your hunting outfitter will deliver your raw trophies to the freight agent’s depot (Safari Cargo Systems LDA) in Matola – Mozambique, where they will be recorded and packed.
The trophies will undergo a veterinary inspection to obtain a Mozambique Export Veterinary Certificate.
Mozambique wildlife export permits and or cites export permits will be issued for each trophy by Mozambique Government.
Veterinary inspection, bank clearance and custom pre-clearance’s all need to be arranged before shipment can take place.
Life-Form Taxidermy will request an ESTIMATED import deposit / down payment from you as all the import charges will be paid upfront on your behalf. Together with a down payment a SIGNED authorisation letter will be requested from you, to enable Life-Form to apply and collect the Veterinary Import Permit from the South African Agricultural, Forestry & Fisheries Department. All invoices of how your deposit was allocated for the import charges will be forwarded to you on receipt of your trophies at our studio in South Africa.
Please contact us directly after your hunt to inform us of your trophies taken, and to establish contact with us. A detailed list of your trophy parts will assist in ensuring that all items are correctly stated on the Mozambique export permits from the start.
On receipt of the Mozambique Wildlife Export documentation. We will in turn make applications for the South African Import documentation and once received will be couriered to Safari Cargo Systems Lda in Mozambique to obtain Veterinary approval and arrange pre-clearance.
Trucking of trophies is done in batches as a cost-efficient benefit to clients. Transport charges are then split accordingly for space utilised per client’s batch of trophies. Updates of the progress being made will be sent to you throughout the process, to keep you informed.
On receipt of the batch of trophies to our quarantine facility all will be inspected and cleared by S.A. nature conservation as well as a Veterinary clearance. All trophies are then individually tagged and booked into our studio and an order will be sent to each client, whether for Dip and Pack or Fully processed at our studio for re-exporting on to you abroad.