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The Gemsbuck Oryx (Oryx Gazella), or South African Oryx, is a large antelope in the genus Oryx. It is endemic to the dry and barren regions. The name Gemsbuck Oryx is from Afrikaans, which itself is from the Dutch word of the same spelling, meaning “male Chamois”, composed of gems (“Chamois”) and buck meaning (“buck, male goat”). The Gemsbuck Oryx is depicted on the coat of arms of Namibia, where the current population of the species is estimated at 373,000 individuals.
Gemsbuck Oryx are light taupe to tan in colour, with lighter patches toward the bottom rear of the rump. Their tails are long and black in colour. A blackish stripe extends from the chin down the lower edge of the neck, through the juncture of the shoulder and leg along the lower flank of each side to the blackish section of the rear leg. They have muscular necks and shoulders, and their legs have white ‘socks’ with a black patch on the front of both the front legs, and both sexes have long, straight horns. Comparably, the East African Oryx lacks a dark patch at the base of the tail, has less black on the legs (none on the hindleg), and less black on the lower flanks. One very rare colour morph is the “Golden Oryx”, in which the Gemsbuck Oryx black markings are muted and appear to be golden.
Gemsbuck Oryx are the largest species in the genus Oryx. They stand about 1.2 m (4 ft) at the shoulder. The body length can vary from 190 to 240 cm (75 to 94 in) and the tail measures 45 to 90 cm (18 to 35 in). Male Gemsbuck Oryx can weigh between 180 and 240 kg (400 and 530 lb), while females weigh 100–210 kg (220–460 lb).
Gemsbuck Oryx are widely hunted for their spectacular horns that average 85 cm (33 in) in length. From a distance, the only outward difference between males and females is their horns. In males horns tend to be thicker with larger bases. Females have slightly longer, thinner horns. Female Gemsbuck Oryx use their horns to defend themselves and their offspring from predators, while males primarily use their horns to defend their territories from other males.
Gemsbuck Oryx live in herds of about 10–40 animals, which consist of a dominant male, a few non dominant males, and females. They are mainly desert-dwelling and do not depend on drinking water to supply their physiological needs. They can reach running speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph). Gemsbuck Oryx are mostly crepuscular in nature, since temperatures are tolerable and predator detection rates are highest during these times.
The Gemsbuck Oryx is generally a grazer but changes to browsing during the dry season or when grass is sparse. It may dig up to a meter deep to find roots and tubers, supplementing its water intake by eating wild Tsamma melons and cucumbers, which can provide all the water required (3 litres per 100 kg bodyweight a day).
The Gemsbuck Oryx is polygynous, with one resident male mating with the receptive females in the herd. The male is known to secure exclusive mating access to the females by attempting to herd mixed or nursery herds onto his territory. The Gemsbuck Oryx has no specified breeding season, but the young in a given herd tend to be of a similar age due to reproductive synchrony between females. Pregnant females leave the herd before giving birth. The gestation period lasts 270 days and mothers give birth to 1–2 offspring. The calf remains hidden 6 weeks after birth, after which mother and calf rejoin the herd. The calf is weaned at 3+1⁄2months, becomes independent at 4+1⁄2months, and achieves sexual maturity at 1+1⁄2–2 years in both sexes.
Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena and Wild Dog prey upon the Gemsbuck Oryx and calves are especially vulnerable, accounting for their very high mortality rate.
The East African Oryx (Oryx Beisa), also known as the Beisa, is a species of medium-sized antelope from East Africa. The East African Oryx stands just over a metre at the shoulder and weighs around 175 lb (79 kg). It has a grey coat with a white underside, separated from the grey by a stripe of black, with black stripes where the head attaches to the neck, along the nose, and from the eye to the mouth and on the forehead. The mane is small and chestnut-coloured; the ringed horns are thin and straight. They are found on both sexes and typically measure 75–80 cm (30–31 in).
East African Oryx live in semidesert and steppes, where they eat grasses, leaves, fruit and buds. They are able to store water by raising their body temperatures (so as to avoid perspiration). They gather in herds of 5 to 40 animals, often with females moving at the front and a large male guarding from the rear. Some older males are solitary. Radio tracking studies show the solitary males are often accompanied for brief periods by breeding-condition females, so it is probable they are executing a strategy to maximise their chances of reproduction.
Gemsbuck Oryx are found in arid and semi-arid bushland in southwestern Africa, especially around the Namibia and Kalahari deserts, in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.
The fringe-eared Oryx ranges from Kenya to Central Tanzania. The Beisa Oryx ranges from Ethiopia through Somalia into Northeastern Uganda and Kenya.
Gemsbuck Oryx taxidermy is the art of preserving the Gemsbuck Oryx’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.
A sturdy pair of boots is essential for a Gemsbuck Oryx hunt, as you will be walking considerable distances. Often hunted in vast landscapes, necessitates a rifle and sight setup capable of flat shooting. You’ll need to plan your approach meticulously and stay on high alert at all times as Gemsbuck Oryx are known for using their superior senses of sight, hearing, and scent. One of the hardest-fighting antelope you will encounter, opt for the. 270 calibre with a high-quality 150-grain bullet as the bare minimum. Even better options include the 7mm and 30 calibre Magnums. Even though spitzer bullets perform admirably in open terrain, hunting Gemsbuck Oryx in the bush calls for heavy-for-calibre round tip bullets fired at moderate velocities to break through the undergrowth without being deflected.
The dominant hump in the shoulder will try to fool you into aiming too high. Follow the line of the back of the front leg until it’s about a third of the way into the body, then shoot. Do not shoot this magnificent antelope over its horizontal midline unless you are prepared to walk a very long way in search of the carcass. The Gemsbuck Oryx is a great game animal to hunt because he makes a beautiful trophy and his meat is some of the best in Africa.
When making an Gemsbuck Oryx 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 Gemsbuck Oryx will be chosen after taking your measurements into account, and the posture of your form will be changed at no extra cost. Full-mount Gemsbuck Oryx trophies come with bases made to look like the animal’s natural habitat and made just for the Gemsbuck Oryx mount.
The taxidermy process at Life-Form takes your prized Gemsbuck Oryx 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 Gemsbuck Oryx trophy to make sure it stays in perfect shape for years to come.
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.
