CROCODILE

Crocodiles (subfamily Crocodylinae) are large aquatic tetrapods that live throughout Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. They are reptiles and, like most reptiles, are cold-blooded.They have incredibly strong teeth and have the strongest bite of all animals in the world. They are very fast over short distances. They are very vocal creatures. They have good night vision and they are nocturnal. Experts believe all Crocodiles can see colour.

Additional information

Mount Type

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Facts

• Some crocodile species can weigh over 1200 kg (2600 lb).
• Crocodiles have the most acidic stomach of any vertebrate.
• They have an average lifespan of 30-40 years at least.
• Crocodiles are the most social of reptiles

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

All Crocodiles are semi-aquatic and live in rivers, lakes and wetlands, as well as some saltwater places. Crocodiles eat a variety of fish, birds and other animals as well as other, smaller crocodiles. Their size varies from the smallest, Dwarf Crocodile, to the largest Saltwater crocodile.They have incredible senses that make them very successful predators. The eyes, ears and nostrils are located on top of the head, allowing the crocodile to lie low in the water to hide from its prey.

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Professional Crocodile Taxidermy

Crocodiles, Crocodylus Niloticus, are enormous reptiles that can be found in the tropics of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. They belong to the order Crocodilia together with other reptiles including caimans, gharials, and even alligators.

Crocodiles congregate in areas with standing or moving water, such as rivers, lakes, floodplains, mangroves, estuaries, and even saltwater. In addition to the fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals, they will also consume crabs and mollusks on occasion.

Crocodiles ambush its prey by waiting patiently for fish or land animals like zebras to approach, which they then suddenly attack.

 

Hunting Crocodile

It’s safe to say that the Nile crocodile is one of the most unusual African trophies. These enormous, carnivorous reptiles inhabit nearly all of Africa’s major rivers.  The crocodile is a slow-growing, ancient-looking creature that lives for a very long time.

Even though the crocodile looks lazy and uninterested as it sunbathes on the riverbank, don’t be fooled. Crocodiles are shy, wary, and very careful. They are quite tough to get within a respectable shooting distance on foot.

If the Crocodile is allowed to flee back into the water after being shot, the trophy is likely to be lost. You can only successfully anchor your Croc into the spinal column directly below the skull.

It is recommended that Crocodiles be hunted from a blind and shot from a stable lying stance. You’ll need a rifle of at least .338 calibre to penetrate his thick hide and the exceptionally strong bone protecting his head. Always shoot with expanding soft-point bullets that have been tested for quality control. Due to the difficulty in controlling the recoil of rifles with calibers greater than .375 when shooting from a resting position, such weapons should be avoided. In all seriousness, a 4-power quality scope is a must-have.

 

What is Crocodile Taxidermy?

We want our trophies to look and feel as close to the actual thing as possible. Planning ahead is the first step in every endeavour in crocodile taxidermy that is sure to be successful. At Lifeform, we select and customize our forms with care to provide a comfortable fit, and we’ll even alter the posture to your satisfaction at no extra cost. Standard natural habitat bases are included at no cost with all full mount trophies.

It is always recommended to opt for a fullmount or a rugmount on larger Crocodiles and leather tanning for the smaller Crocodiles.

We only use the best (mostly natural) materials, and our 40 years of experience in the field allow us to give your trophies new meaning. All finished trophies seem remarkably real. When restoration is required, every effort is made to mend wounds caused by bullets while keeping the bullet hole damage to a minimum. Unless otherwise specified, the animal will keep whatever natural scars it has.

 

Skin preparation tips for a flawless trophy

Your Safari Outfitter will handle your trophy in the field before bringing it to the taxidermist. Neither loading nor unloading the animal into a vehicle requires dragging it on the ground. It’s important to skin the animal right away.

The decay process starts as soon as your animal dies, and it goes faster in Africa’s heat. It is essential that the skin be totally free of any traces of connective tissue, muscle, fat, and cartilage.

Immediately after skinning the animal, give the skin a thorough washing to get rid of any remaining blood. For this purpose, an antibacterial solution such as F10(cl) is suggested.

The skin is ready to be salted after being drip-dried for a few minutes. The salt should be used liberally and thoroughly massaged into the skin, especially the fine lines and wrinkles. Hang the skin a couple of days to dry.

 

The Crocodile Taxidermy method and process

It’s up to the buyer to consider things like price, wall space, and aesthetic taste when selecting a taxidermy Crocodile mount. Given that each whole mount is given a unique form and arrangement, Life-Form Taxidermy prefers considerable consultation with the customer.

Once we have all the information, we need to mount your specimen, we will produce a life-like creation. The skin’s protein content decreases as a result of tanning. To keep a trophy clean, we take steps to stop bacteria from growing.

To guarantee a proper fit, each skin is first tested on a custom-made manikin. The skin is expertly sewed once the eyes and facial elements are in the right places. Before making any final adjustments, the taxidermist will wait for the skin or hide to dry completely. The trophies are then packed into IPPC approved plywood crates and shipped by the designated freight agent.

 

Taking care of your Crocodile trophy

Even the most prestigious museums and trophy halls have had problems with insects. The culprits are little demisted/carpet beetles or moths. Using a bug room fogger, you can be confident that the trophy rooms are pest-free zones. Once a year, you should moth proof all of your mounts and carpets. Basically any spray made to keep moths away from clothes will do.

If you dust your mounts once or twice a week, they will retain their pristine appearance indefinitely. Any remaining dust can be removed using a feather duster and a moist cloth rubbed in the direction of the hair. Mount Medix Africa comes highly suggested (obtained from Life-Form Taxidermy – a trusted product).

Keep taxidermy out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources like fireplaces and heaters. Mildew and mould thrive in damp environments. Trophies are often damaged by shifts in temperature and humidity. Don’t store the trophies in places like attics or basements.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

How much does a Crocodile trophy cost?

The price of any trophy depends on how much it costs per taxidermy order, the number of trophies, how they are mounted, and any other requirements. If you want a price estimate before the hunt, the taxidermist can make one for you.

 

How long does a Crocodile take?

The time it takes a taxidermist to mount an animal could be a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months. This depends on the number of trophies per taxidermy order, the client’s display preferences, and the number of client trophies that need to be made at the same time, according to the production schedule.

The total time for finishing and packing is between 10 and 12 months. A lot depends on the “what, how, and when” questions. A taxidermy order can also only be scheduled for production once the required deposit and instructions for mounting the trophy have been received.

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