GERENUK

The Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri), also known as the Waller’s gazelle, is a long-necked species of antelope. Gerenuk means “giraffe-necked” in the Somali language. They have incredibly long legs which are used for sprinting long distances away from predators.Both sexes have medium brown coats with pale underbellies. They have black tipped tails and very slender necks. They have very long legs and this is an advantage when running away from predators but they can be more susceptible to leg fractures.

Additional information

Mount Type

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Facts

• For about the first week, a gerenuk calf stays curled up, hidden from predators.
• In ancient African Tribe tales, the gerenuk has often been crowned ‘Queen of Humbleness.
• Gerenuk reproduce throughout the year.There have been numerous occasions in which the gerenuk actually snapped their long legs due to tripping and stumbling along the floor.

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

The Gerenuk prefers to live in the desert and Savannah. They eat from the taller tree branches because of their long legs and can survive in the drier areas as they get their moisture from the food they consume.Grasses and prickly bushes are also enjoyed by the Gerenuks. Gerenuks are considered as very humble and kind animals as they will always help other gerenuks in need. Gerenuks are often prey for Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards.

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Professional Gerenuk Taxidermy in South Africa

The Gerenuk, Litocranius walleri, is a species of antelope with a neck as long as a giraffe’s. The word “giraffe-necked” comes from the Somali language. The animals have a relatively small brain, but big eyes and ears for their body size. Only the males have horns, which are thick and extensively ringed, and they also have a more powerfully muscled neck than the females.

Their coat is brown on the top and paler on the sides. The black hair tuft at the end of the short tail makes it appear much longer. These big antelopes, similar to gazelles, use preorbital glands in front of their eyes to secrete a tar-like, scent-bearing substance, which they then deposit on twigs and bushes to demarcate their area. They also have olfactory glands on their knees, which are covered by tufts of hair, and between their split hooves.

 

Hunting Gerenuk

In Africa, Gerenuks are prey to lions, cheetahs, leopards, and jackals. The Gerenuk’s long, slender legs help it avoid capture by predators. However, if the Gerenuk is running on uneven ground, it could break a leg. Several Gerenuk have fallen victim to predators after breaking bones trying to outrun them. Gerenuks congregate as bachelor groups or in small mixed herds.

When startled, a Gerenuk will drop its head to its chest, crouch, and take off running. It will freeze behind some bushes and use its long neck to assess the situation before deciding whether or not to continue being still or to make a break for it. In Africa, the greatest time to shoot a Gerenuk is just before it spots you, after it has frozen in fear as it scans the area for potential threats.

In Africa, a Gerenuk can be hunted with any gun suitable for plains game. Anything with a calibre between.270 and.300 will do the trick. The Gerenuk has keen eyesight and hearing, making it difficult to get within striking distance. Your range may extend beyond 170 yards. Consider using a Nosler Partition or a Barnes Triple Shock bullet. Long-range shooting calls for a 25-06, .257 Roberts, or .257 Weatherby.

Shooting a Gerenuk in Africa will require some careful planning. The length of its legs and neck gives the illusion that it is larger than it actually is. Since it has a narrow midsection, any shots taken from the side or the right will require some planning. Cut the animal in half lengthwise, then again diagonally. Then, visualise a line going up the back of the foreleg, vertically. The centre is located at the point where the vertical line and the smallest horizontal line intersect. The lungs will be struck if the shot is slightly off.

 

What is Gerenuk Taxidermy?

As you shop for a taxidermy Gerenuk mount, keep in mind your preferences in terms of price, size, and location on the wall. Life-Form Taxidermy puts a priority on clearly understanding the client’s wants, needs and preferences before starting the taxidermy process.

An accurate blueprint forms the basis of any good Gerenuk taxidermy. In order to preserve the skins for future generations, we utilise only the highest quality chemicals and techniques for tanning and oiling.

You can buy a mount from Lifeform with the assurance that we will make free adjustments to the posture until you are completely happy with it. The usual natural habitat bases are included with fully mounted trophies. We use only the highest-quality materials, mostly natural, and draw on our 40 years of experience in the area to give your trophies their time to shine.

As soon as they’re finished, the trophies seem quite lifelike. When necessary, we fix nicks and scratches while minimising bullet holes. Natural scars will be left alone unless otherwise stated.

 

Skin Preparation for a Flawless Gerenuk Trophy

The loss of hair and the breakdown of the skin are two of the worst problems that can occur to a magnificent cape. Apply salt to the skin right after shooting the animal to keep the hair from falling out. Get it out of the sun as soon as you can.

Wash the area with soap and water to stop the bleeding. To the best of your ability, keep the animal off the ground. This trophy should be carefully marked. By suspending the carcass, the hair and skin is held above the blood rather than soaking into it.

The skinners can’t provide you a suitable mount until you tell them what you’re looking for. Prepare for full mount if you can’t make up your mind. Keep in mind that although a taxidermist can remove excess skin, he cannot add new skin.

Excess meat or fat can be removed after the skin has been removed. Give the meat 30 minutes to rest after skinning before salting it. Soak the skin for at least five hours, preferably overnight, in a salt solution. Using two centimetres of salt, keep the skin in a cool, shady location. One day later, after shaking off the salt, you can hang the cape to dry. Insects are an annoyance and can cause harm, hence pesticides are recommended.

 

The Gerenuk Taxidermy Process and Methods

Using your detailed instructions, Life-Form Taxidermy can create a perfect replica of your skin. We invest much in the consultation phase to ensure we completely appreciate the client’s goals.

Tanned and managed using only the finest chemicals and methods, the skins are guaranteed to last for years. Every skin undergoes a stringent fit test on a manikin.

The skin is then stitched by an expert once the correct positioning of the eyes and ears has been confirmed. The taxidermist won’t complete the trophy until it’s completely dried. The shipping company hired by the customer is in charge of delivering the customer’s trophies.

 

Taking Care of Your Gerenuk Trophy

Mounts should never be installed in basements or moist areas. Wet mounts promote mould and other fungi.

A light dusting keeps a mount looking great. Use a feather duster to eliminate dust, then wipe in the direction of hair growth with a damp cloth.

Instead of attempting to shape the hair into something it is not, work with what you have. You can rely on the Medix Africa product stocked at Lifeform to safeguard your investment.

Mounts need sun protection wherever possible. Trophies fade due to UV rays from the sun.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How Much Does a Gerenuk Trophy Cost?

The ultimate cost will depend on the quantity of trophies ordered in addition to their received condition and any repairs that are required. If you’d like a quote from us, please get in touch.

 

How Long does a Gerenuk Trophy Take?

The time it takes for a Gerenuk to go through the Life-Form Taxidermy process is usually between eight and 12 months.

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