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The Ankole is a breed or group of breeds of African cattle, belonging to the broad Sanga Cattle grouping of African breeds. It was probably introduced to Uganda between five and seven hundred years ago by nomadic pastoralists from more northerly parts of the continent. It is distributed in much of eastern and central Africa, particularly in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and parts of Tanzania.
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The meaning of Ankole is: an African breed of long-horned humpless cattle.
Ankole cattle have rusty red coats that can be either solid in colour or speckled. They have long, thick horns that can grow up to 6-8 feet and are “lyre” shaped.
Ankole have strong herding and protection instincts. Adults bed down in a circle facing out with calves in the center. They were first domesticated in parts of Africa such as Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya for thousands of years. These native cattle are adapted to survive several months when food and water are scarce.
Because they were developed in a climate where daily temperatures may range from 20 to 120oF, Ankole tolerate temperature and weather extremes well. The large horns act as radiators; blood circulating through the horn area is cooled and then returned to the main body. This allows excess body heat to be dispersed. Both male and female Ankole species have horns, and the bull’s horns are larger and thicker than the cow’s.
Some individuals can be quite aggressive and will charge other members of the herd and push the subordinate animals out of the way with their horns.
The price of Ankole cattle are determined by physical sizes and age of the animals. In captivity the Ankole can live up to 20-25 years.
Gestation is 9 months and one calf is born weighing 30-50 pounds. At birth, a female calf is often termed a “heifer calf.” A heifer in the final weeks of pregnancy is dubbed a “springing heifer,” and a heifer that is pregnant for the first time is known as a “bred heifer.” Upon giving birth, heifers become cows.
In the wild, Ankole cattle eat grass. As herd animals, Ankole are highly social and follow a hierarchy. They communicate via chemical signals, touch, visual cues, and sounds.
Originally found in Uganda, Ankole cattle are a domesticated breed typically found on farms as well as in open forests, grasslands, and meadows.
Ankole taxidermy is the art of preserving the Ankole’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 mannequin 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.
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.
When making an Ankole 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 Ankole will be chosen after taking your measurements into account, and the posture of your form will be changed at no extra cost. Full-mount Ankole trophies come with bases made to look like the animal’s natural habitat and made just for the Ankole mount.
The taxidermy process at Life-Form takes your prized Ankole 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.
Using the helpful tips below, it’s important to take extra care of your prized Ankole trophy to make sure it stays in perfect shape for years to come.
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.
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. Please contact [email protected]
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.
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.
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.
