AARDVARK

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Professional Aardvark Taxidermy in South Africa

The aardvark is a mysterious, nocturnal animal which can prove a tricky trophy for many hunters. Those who have been lucky enough to gain an aardvark trophy would likely wish to honour this exciting and rare opportunity – and there is no better way than through a carefully rendered taxidermy trophy.

What is Aardvark taxidermy?

Aardvark taxidermy is the art of preserving the aardvark’s skin and other body parts to produce lifelike sculptures for display, either at home as a hunting trophy or in museums for educational purposes. Skin is preserved and mounted on an artificial armature to display the specimen.

The contemporary English word “taxidermy” is derived from the Greek terms taxis, meaning “movement,” and derma, meaning “skin,” thereby combining these two meanings. This is why, in a broad sense, taxidermy is synonymous with “the motion of skin.”

For expert taxidermists, skills in sculpture, painting, and sketching are just as important as those in carpentry, woodworking, tanning, moulding, and casting.

The remaining parts of the body are synthetic replacements for real organs and tissues. Polyurethane foam is used for the manikin or form, which includes the anatomy of every muscle and vein; glass is used for the eyes; clay is used for the eyelids; for the nose and mouth the foam of the manekin is sculptured.

Works of taxidermy can be found in a wide range of environments, including museums, classrooms, galleries, stores, restaurants, and private households, due to the complexity and delicate craftsmanship involved in the taxidermy process.

Preparation & Packaging tips for a flawless Aardvark trophy

Aardvark is active at night and burrows underground. It can be found all over sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in areas with termite populations. Its range extends from the dry lands of Northern Africa to the tropical rainforests of Western Africa and finally to the desert plains of the Karoo in South Africa.

The vast majority of aardvark are taken as “trophies of opportunity” during routine plains game or dangerous game hunts when the hunters happen to come upon them. If you want to hunt an aardvark, you need be prepared to spend many long hours driving around with spotlights in an area that has a lot of termite mounds and a lot of aardvark activity.

You should also be prepared to spend a lot of time in the dark. Because they are so uncommon, you will need to have a lot of good fortune on your side in order to come across one of these animals.

You will need a great deal of patience and luck in order to hunt an aardvark effectively at night using a spotlight in the aim of finding an aardvark that is feeding.

Once you have sighted an aardvark, be sure to get a clean shot to the chest to ensure minimal damage is incurred. After you have successfully hunted your aardvark, be sure to have it frozen as soon as possible.

This is vital to prevent the spread of bacteria which may damage the skin and to delay the process of decomposition, ensuring that your trophy arrives at the taxidermy studio in pristine condition.

The Aardvark taxidermist’s process and method

When making an aardvark mount, careful planning is key to getting a high-quality result. When tanning and oiling the skins, only the best chemicals and methods are used. This ensures that the skins will last for many years.

Your preferred form for the aardvark will be chosen after taking your measurements into account, and the posture of your form will be changed at no extra cost. Full-mount aardvark trophies come with bases made to look like the animal’s natural habitat and made just for the aardvark mount.

The taxidermy process at Life-Form takes your prized aardvark trophy and gives it a whole new meaning by using only the best materials and drawing on more than 40 years of experience in the field.

When repair is needed, every effort is made to fix cuts and scrapes and lessen bullet damage. Existing scars are left alone unless the client asks for them to be taken away.

Taking care of your Aardvark trophy

Using the helpful tips below, it’s important to take extra care of your prized aardvark trophy to make sure it stays in perfect shape for years to come.

• To keep your aardvark mounts looking their best, it’s important to put them in the right place with the right temperature and humidity.
• To keep your mounts from fading over time, try not to hang them next to a sunny window where they will be in direct sunlight for a long time. If you can, don’t put taxidermy near direct heat sources like furnace vents or wood stoves.
• A taxidermy trophy should be handled and cared for like any other expensive and fine piece of art. Mounts should only be touched when they need to be.
• If you want your mounts to look their best, you should dust them often and gently. A feather duster works well, and then you can wipe away any remaining dust with a damp cloth in the direction of the hair.
• People often say that things like furniture polish work well to clean hair or fur, but you should avoid using them. Over time, these things can actually gather more dust and moisture.
• You can also use compressed air or a vacuum with a soft brush for the scenery. Be careful to work gently and follow the natural direction of the skin.
• Use a Q-tip dipped in glass cleaner to clean the eyes, and then use a clean, dry swab to polish them.
• Even the most prestigious museums and trophy rooms have had items damaged by insects. Moths and tiny demisted or carpet beetles are the two types of insects that are responsible for this problem, so it is worth fumigating the room regularly.
• A fine repellent mist should be sprayed all over the mount, and then the product should be carefully combed into the hair. A blow dryer can be used to restore the fluffy appearance of the fur on animals that have it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Aardvark taxidermy cost?

Please contact us for a price and quotation.

How long does Aardvark taxidermy take?

Depending on the aardvark trophy in question, the usual way of doing things in this field can take anywhere from eight to 12 months.

Taxidermy is an art form that involves a complicated step-by-step process to make sure that each trophy looks just right and is of a high enough quality that it will last your whole life.