BUSHPIG

The bushpig is a member of the pig family which lives in groups, or sounders, of about 4 to 20 animals that inhabits forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and cultivated areas in East and Southern Africa.

Additional information

Mount Type

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Facts

• Weight: 69 kg (Adult)
• Scientific name: Potamochoerus larvatus
• Gestation period: 122days.
• Omnivorous

Taxidermy

Thorough preparation is the key factor to ensuring a high-quality final product. All hides are tanned and oiled using the world’s very best available chemicals and processes to ensure permanence and longevity.Forms are selected to ensure the best fit and posture will be altered to suit you, the client’s preference without additional cost. Natural habitat bases are custom-made for full mount trophies without additional cost.Only the finest materials and 40 years of professional experience are used in defining your trophies in a whole new way. The final trophies are almost Life-Formed. When the restoration is required, every effort is made to repair cuts and abrasions, and to minimise bullet damage. Natural scarring is kept unless otherwise requested.

Habitat

They tend to live in forests, woodland, riverine vegetation areas in East and
Southern Africa.

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Professional Bushpig Taxidermy in South Africa

 

The Bushpig [Potamochoerus larvatus] might be thought of as Africa’s answer to the Wild Boar found in Europe. He’s also similar to the Feral Boars that may be found in various parts of the United States. Though generally smaller than either his European or North American counterparts, the Bushpig displays the same unpleasant temperament and aggressive behaviour as the rest of his swine family. The forequarters of a Bushpig are particularly powerful. Adult Boars can reach a weight of 60 kg and a shoulder height of 900 mm. In appearance, the Bushpig is similar to the common pig, although it is hairier. His hair and beard will either be a grey brown to a dark brown, and becomes even darker with age.

 

A Bushpigs sharp tusks are shorter than those of his cousin the Warthog. It has short, barely noticeable upper tusks, but longer, 7cm lower tusks that are extremely sharp. The ears are sharper, and has a narrower snout. They live in communities of six to 12 individuals, ruled by a dominant male and female and including many other females and youngsters, of similar size.

 

Hunting Bushpig

 

There are three methods to go on a hunt for Bushpigs, and each one is as as thrilling as the others. Baiting traps for Bushpigs is the standard method of hunting. The hunters will wait in the blind for the Bushpig to come, feeding before making their move. Because of their acute senses of hearing, sight, and scent, silence is golden. When scouring the farms and other open regions of South Africa for Bushpig, another option is to use a spotlight at night. It is also common practise in South Africa to use a pack of hounds in a hunt for Bushpigs. In South Africa, hunting Bushpig with a pack of hounds is a popular approach to boost the hunter’s chances of bagging a trophy Bushpig.

 

To find Bushpig while they are resting throughout the day, you’ll have to venture into the thickets and underbrush. Most of their activity takes place at night, making that the perfect time to go hunting for them. It’s recommended to use a rifle with an appropriate calibre, preferably one with a .270 or greater barrel. Another viable option is a shotgun loaded with slugs. Keep your distance from these animals; you can always bank on aggressive behaviour from tiny groups that contain young Bushpigs. Warning: this bad-tempered beast becomes incredibly violent when wounded, so while hunting Bushpig can make for an exciting evening and interesting stalk, it’s important to exercise utmost caution.

 

You should expect your African Bushpig trophy to measure about 32 inches at the shoulder, to weigh about 180 pounds, and to have a tusk length of about 4 inches.

 

What is Bushpig taxidermy?

 

Planning ahead thoroughly is essential for producing quality taxidermy work. When tanning and oiling the hides, only the highest quality chemicals and processes that are accessible worldwide are utilised. This ensures that the skins will retain their strength and resilience for many generations to come.

 

At Lifeform Taxidermy, we take great care in selecting our forms to ensure a comfortable fit for each customer, and we’ll even change the posture to suit your preferences at no additional cost. Free, standard custom-made, natural habitat bases are included with the purchase of full mount trophies. When we give renewed significance to your trophies, we exclusively make use of the materials of the best possible quality and draw upon our 40 years of experience in the industry.

 

The finished trophies have an appearance that is almost identical to real life. When restoration is required, every effort is made to repair cuts and abrasions while reducing the amount of damage caused by bullets. Natural scarring on the animal will be preserved unless a particular request is made to have them removed.

 

Skin preparation and storage tips for a flawless Bushpig trophy

 

Make sure your trophy is well taken care of in the field before bringing it in to be taxidermied. The sooner skinning gets under way, the fewer problems there will be. Scrub the skin until there is no trace of flesh, fat, filth, or blood left. The last remnants of flesh must be shaved away before the skin can be peeled off. Thoroughly cleanse the skin. Once the skin has been drip-dried for a short time, it is salted.

 

When salt loses its crisp texture and begins to seem “slushy,” it’s time to replace it. When the moisture level in the salting area is too high (15%+), halophytic bacteria, an organism that thrives in high concentrations of salt, causes an indelible pink stain on the skins of those that come into contact with it.

 

The Bushpig taxidermist’s process and methods

 

Life-Form Taxidermy will make a mould to fit the skin after receiving your detailed mounting instructions. The skins are tanned and oiled using only the finest chemicals and methods, ensuring their durability and longevity for many years of service.

 

The first step of bushpig taxidermy is the “fleshing” phase, often known as the shaving phase, during which the skin is prepared for the next stage. Repairs are made to the scars and skin through stitching. The skulls are cleaned and dried. The moulds are produced, and then the manikins are formed in accordance with the specifications of the client.

 

Now that the taxidermy process has begun, the animal is brought to life via the artistry of taxidermy. To make it more aesthetically and symmetrically pleasant to the eye, they will then focus on the finer elements. Quality control is followed by packing. Each crate is tailored to the individual customer to maximise efficiency, secure each trophy for the journey abroad and reduce shipping costs.

 

Taking care of your Bushpig trophy

 

Keep trophies cool and dry. Artificial light is superior because daylight lightens the mounts over time. If there’s too much humidity, ventilate the room. Hair may generate moisture beads in high humidity due to salt and tanning residue. Using an absorbent tissue will absorb the salts along with the moisture.

 

Once a year, dust the mounts with a soft brush or compressed air to “ruffle” the hair. Normal aerosol surface pesticide for fish moths, ants, cockroaches, etc. should be placed around trophies, creating a fine mist on them. Consider using Mount Medix Africa to preserve your trophy. This is a Life-Form Taxidermy product.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

How much does a Bush Pig trophy cost?

 

The pricing of any trophy is subject to the costing stipulated per taxidermy order, quantity of trophies and preferred mounting options, along with additional requirements. Should you wish to receive a quotation prior to the hunt, the taxidermist can generate such for you.

 

How long does a Bush Pig trophy take?

The time it takes a taxidermist to mount an animal might range from days to weeks, and possibly several months, depending on the quantity of trophies per taxidermy order, the display preferences, and volumes of client trophies to be produced, simultaneously, per production schedule.

 

The completion and packing timeframe combined, ranges from 8-12 months. This depends largely on the “what, how, when” factors. A taxidermy order also only becomes available for production scheduling upon receipt of the required deposit and trophy mounting instructions.

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