HIPPO

The hippopotamus or hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius), from Ancient Greek for “river horse”, is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in Sub-Saharan Africa. They are the third largest land mammal in the world.They are extremely dangerous and quite vicious. They swim well in water by kicking their small legs around and they are amazingly agile for their weight. They are good climbers. Young Hippos often climb up on their Mothers backs to rest.

Additional information

Mount Type

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Facts

• The Hippos average lifespan is 50 years.
• Their hides can weigh half a ton.
• The hippo can stay underwater for up to 6 minutes if they close their eyes and nostrils.
• Hippos are closely related to pigs

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 hippo climbs up river banks each night to graze on the grass. They will eat grasses and leaves but aren’t hesitant to bite other animals in a fight. Fallen fruits are also a part of their diet.With their sharp hearing, they can hear the sound of dropping fruit. Nile Crocodiles, Lions and Spotted Hyenas are known to prey on young hippos.

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Professional Hippo Taxidermy in South Africa

Hippopotamuses, or Hippopotamus amphibius, are enormous, spherical, aquatic mammals that can be found naturally only in Africa. Hippopotamus is derived from the Greek for “water horse” or “river horse,” however the two animals have little in common genetically.

The hippo is a popular symbol of the African continent. The hippo is the true king of Africa’s waterways, not the crocodiles. Also, it’s not simply king of the river; hippos have been known to take down lions.

The body of the hippo is large and round, and its legs are short and stubby, ending in four toes apiece. In addition, the animal has a fairly short tail.

One of the most recognisable characteristics of a hippo is its enormous mouth. Its mouth can expand to show tusks that are 30 centimetres in length, and it can open to a width of half a metre.

Hippopotamuses are extremely sociable and often congregate in large groups known variously as schools, bloats, pods, and sieges. Hippos travel in groups of 10-30, which includes both males and females.

 

Hunting Hippo

The provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga host the vast bulk of South Africa’s hippo hunts. You should plan beforehand if you want to go on a Hippo hunt. The availability of quota is strictly regulated, therefore hunting possibilities are restricted.

They can be hunted on foot at night with the use of a permission in places where problem hippos are a problem. Hunting hippopotamuses in this manner is highly dangerous.

The conventional method of hunting hippos entails walking and stalking along the banks of rivers and dams in areas where the animals are known to congregate. Finding a bull basking on the shore will greatly improve your hunting prospects, as these animals are typically pursued from boats. When trying to sex a male hippo in the water, your target is significantly smaller than when you’re standing on dry land and shooting at the shoulder. Animals that are shot in the water will first sink, but will eventually float to the surface when their stomachs fill with gas.

When hunting hippo in the water, a head shot is a must.

The best calibre for hunting hippos is a.375 or larger with solid bullets. If you have enough gun, a shot to the shoulder will anchor one of these enormous beasts; in a charge, the only surefire way to stop the beast is with a bullet to the brain.

 

What is Hippo Taxidermy?

The art of hippo taxidermy entails preparing and mounting specimens of taxidermy by cleaning, conserving, and stuffing the skins of dead animals with special substances to give the impression that the animals are still alive. As such, we work hard to ensure that your hippo mount looks and feels as authentic as possible. A well-organised strategy is the foundation of every successful taxidermy hippo. A taxidermist is an artist, and that’s only one of many talents they have. Sculptor, plumber, framer, painter, and chemist all in one. We have been making trophies for 40 years; put that expertise and the latest technology to use, and your trophies will last a lifetime.

Each of our shapes has been carefully curated, and we’ll even adjust your trophy’s stance at no extra cost if that’s what you want. If you purchase one of our full mount trophies, we’ll include a base that’s designed to look like the animal’s natural habitat at no extra cost. Bullet and abrasion wounds are repaired as thoroughly as feasible. If you don’t want the animal to have scars, then that’s the way it will stay.

 

Skin Preparation for a Flawless Hippo Trophy

Do the skinning as soon as possible after shooting the animal. This is not always straightforward, as the hippo must be retrieved from the water and hoisted onto a  truck before it can be taken to the skinning shed. The decay process starts as soon as the animal dies, and it speeds up in the scorching temperatures of Africa. It’s important to capture clear, close-up images of your animal’s face, the back of its ears, and any other skin abnormalities while you’re out in the field.

Rapid skinning is required. Get rid of all the extra fat and meat. Scrub the blood and grime off with cold water. The skin should be submerged in a saturated salt solution for at least three hours, preferably overnight.

As you lift the skin out of the solution, let any excess water drip off. Then, with the flesh side facing up, open the skin and lay it flat on a clean surface lined with salt. Apply plenty of salt. After at least three days in salt, the skin can be dried. Don’t leave skin out in the sun, but let it air dry as soon as possible; the sooner it’s dehydrated, the better.

 

The Hippo Taxidermy Process and Methods

Your outfitter or professional hunter will usually bring your trophies to our White River workshop for you. We also offer a service in which we will travel to different outfitters in the country to retrieve any trophies you have left with them. Your outfitter can contact us to schedule a time for pickup.

We’ll get you a quote as soon as we get your trophies and enter the details of the order into our production system, taking special note of any mounting instructions you may have.

When we tan and oil our skin, we only use the best chemicals and methods, so it keeps its lustre and beauty for years to come. Each skin undergoes rigorous testing on a manikin to guarantee a perfect fit. A trained professional will next sew the skin closed after the eyes and ears have been properly positioned. Our taxidermist will not do any final touches until the animal is dried.

 

Taking Care of your Hippo trophy

Place the hippopotamus trophy in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources. Maintain the trophy’s pristine condition by routinely dusting it with a gentle, dry cloth. The Medix Africa product will reliably preserve the condition of your favourite trophy. The staff and customers of Life-Form Taxidermy benefit from and promote the product.

The trophy should be kept dry, as any condensation could lead to the growth of mould. Your hippopotamus trophy will remain a stunning and one-of-a-kind display for as long as you give it the attention it deserves.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How much does a Hippo trophy cost?

The price of each trophy is dependent on the price per taxidermy order, the quantity of trophies, the selected mounting options, and any other parameters. If you would like a quote, please get in touch with us.

 

How long does a Hippo trophy take?

The price of each trophy is dependent on the price per taxidermy order, the quantity of trophies, the selected mounting options, and any other parameters. If you would like a quote, please get in touch with us.

Depending on the quantity of trophies per taxidermy order, the display requirements, and the volume of client trophies to be manufactured concurrently per production plan, the time it takes a taxidermist to mount an animal can vary widely, from days to months.

In general, completion and packaging durations range from eight to 12 months. This is largely governed by the species of animal and the sort of taxidermy mount to be created. A taxidermy order can be scheduled for production once the required deposit and trophy mounting instructions have been received.

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