IMPALA

The Impala (Aepyceros melampus) is a medium sized antelope found in Africa. Both sexes have a white underbelly, an “M” marking on their rear and black stripes running down their rump and back. The rest of the body is a reddish-brown colour. Only the male has lyre-shaped horns while the female lacks horns.There is a rare black impala and the recessive gene causes this discoloration. Their predators include Wild dogs, Lions, Cheetahs and Hyenas.

Additional information

Mount Type

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Facts

• When in danger, impalas will explode in a group, leaping, and jumping over and across one another to confuse predators.
• Females and young form herds of up to 200 individuals.
• Male impalas attract females or warn off other males by repeatedly sticking out their tongues in a display known as “tongue flashing.”
• The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning “Gazelle”

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

Impala are found in Savannahs and grasslands in Africa, mostly South Africa, Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe. During the dry seasons, territories are abandoned, as herds must travel farther to find food. Most Impala stay right by watering holes but they can go without water for weeks provided they get it through their diet. They enjoy shrubs, foliage, shoots and forbs for its diet. The impala can be found in numbers of up to 2 million.

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Professional Impala Taxidermy in South Africa

Among the antelope found in South Africa’s bushveld, the Impala (Aepyceros melampus) is by far the most numerous. It is an elegant antelope of around 900mm in height at the shoulders and the coloration of a fawn. In general, rams clock in at 60 kg and ewes at 40 kg.

On the back of each thigh, you’ll notice a thin black line running from the top to the bottom. Subtly hidden behind the tufts of black hair on the lower hind legs are glands. Only the rams get lyre-shaped horns that can measure up to 700 millimetres in length.

Many game ranches in South Africa now offer hunting opportunities for the many colour variant kinds of Impala that were born and raised there. The Black Impala, the Saddle-backed Impala, and the White-flanked Impala all fall into this category. The hunting of these animals does not necessitate any specific permits.

 

Hunting Impala in South Africa

Most hunters who ventures onto African territory has impala on their list of hunts. The rooibok, or red buck in Afrikaans, is a common and important antelope species throughout Southern Africa. The young African hunter will often use him as camp meat, leopard bait, or as a first hunt.

The Impala is a browser and a grazer and will never go far from water because he needs to drink every day. You’ll need to make careful and deliberate stalks if you hunt a rooibok, as he has excellent hearing and smell as well as vision.

While the.22 centre fire is permitted to use for hunting impala in most Southern African countries, larger calibers such as the 6mm, 7mm, and even 30 calibers are preferable if you do not want to spend the greater part of the day following a wounded animal. High-quality, heavy-for-caliber round-nose bullets have a stellar reputation for the harsh bushveld environment.

Since this antelope, albeit only medium in size, is surprisingly robust, a high heart/lung shot is your best hope when hunting impala. High lung shots waste less meat and are more effective for meat hunting. If you want to hit the lungs, aim straight up the front leg about a third of the way, and slightly behind. Any point along the neck is fair game for the neck shot. The brain shot is not for the average sport or meat hunter and should only be tried by the expert hunter.

 

What is Impala Taxidermy?

The term “Impala taxidermy” describes the preservation of an Impala’s skin and body in South Africa. The skin is tanned and then mounted on a shape that represents the animal in a pose that is as accurate as possible to the real thing. The finished mount might be shown as art, used as a teaching tool, or kept as a trophy.

To us at Life-Form, authenticity means that our trophies are almost indistinguishable from the original thing in appearance and texture. Good preparation is the key to a successful Impala taxidermy mount. Make trophies that will last for generations with our 40 years of knowledge and the best materials available today.

 

Skin Preparation for a Flawless Impala Trophy

In South Africa, preparing an impala skin for taxidermy is a delicate procedure that calls for attention to detail and the right techniques to achieve the greatest possible result.

When preparing an impala skin for taxidermy, the first step is to remove the skin off the animal  s soon as possible after the animal has been killed to prevent it from becoming bad. Care should be taken to remove the skin in one continuous piece, including the head and legs.

Step two is to salt the skin. This will aid in drying out the skin in preparation for taxidermy. Particular attention should be paid to the ears and nose, which tend to degrade faster than the rest of the body, while applying salt to the skin. After that, the skin needs to dry for a few days.

Dry skin requires a thorough cleaning afterward to remove any leftover dirt and particles. A gentle brush or wet cloth can do the trick here. All traces of salt must now be eliminated.  Hang the skin for a few days to dry completely.

 

The Impala Taxidermy Process and Methods

The secret to a successful trophy is consultation with our clients and meticulous planning. When we get the skin, we put it through a series of chemical treatments to keep it from drying up and to keep its pliability and softness intact. Tannin is the term for this procedure, which can be accomplished in many ways.

The foundation of the taxidermy mount is the mould or form that we construct. This mould or mannikin, which can be constructed from foam or fibreglass, should be sized and shaped similarly to an actual impala.

After carefully aligning the skin’s seams and patterns with the mannikin’s, we begin sewing the skin onto the form. To avoid wrinkles and provide a smooth, natural look, we also make sure the skin is stretched tightly over the mannikin.

When mounting eyes, a mould of the eye socket is made, and glass or plastic eyes are placed in it.

To complete the mount, we realign the fur and add any other details necessary to make the impala look like a real animal. In order to finish the mount, it may need horns, teeth, hooves, or anything else.

 

Taking Care of Your Impala  Trophy

Store the trophy out of the heat and direct sunlight. Do not keep the trophy in a moist or humid location, since this could encourage the formation of mould or mildew.

Display the trophy out in the open, but out of the direct sunlight and at a moderate temperature. If possible, keep it away from any sources of moisture.

Make sure to inspect the trophy on a regular basis for any deterioration or damage. Problems should be fixed as soon as they are discovered to avoid further loss of function. You can trust that Medix Africa will maintain your trophy in excellent condition. Life-Form Taxidermy makes use of and sells this product.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How Much Does an Impala Trophy Cost?

The total price of your trophy will depend on things such as the complexity of your taxidermy request, how many trophies you want mounted, and the type of mount you want. Get in touch with us for a quote for the best prices in South Africa.

 

How Long does an Impala trophy Take?

Mounting an animal can take anything from a few days to about 18 months, depending on the complexity of the mount, the taxidermist’s workload, and the client’s ideas for display.

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