LEOPARD

Leopards (Panthera pardus) are medium-sized cats found in the wild. They are a part of “the big five”. Leopards are known for their cream and gold spotted fur, but some leopards have black fur with dark spots.These black leopards are often mistaken for panthers. Leopards are very solitary and tend to avoid one another most of the time. They mostly tend to avoid humans but they have been known to attack and kill.

Additional information

Mount Type

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Facts

• The leopard is the fifth largest cat species in the world.
• Males are 30 percent larger than females.
• The Snow Leopard is classified as an endangered species and lives in the difficult terrain and climate conditions of the Himalayas.
• Cross-breeding between Leopards and Jaguars in captivity has been documented

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

They are endangered in Asia and Africa. Leopards adapt well to many different habitats but prefer forests and rocky mountainous areas. Their adaptability has helped them survive due to habitat loss brought on by humans. Leopards are mainly nocturnal and prefer to hunt at night but they have been seen hunting during the day.Leopards are known for their climbing ability and often drag their meal up into trees. They are carnivorous and feed upon smaller animals including birds, big rodents and antelope.

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Professional Leopard Taxidermy in South Africa

Long in body and relatively small in legs and head, these ferocious beasts pack a formidable physical punch. Several subspecies can be identified by the colour of their coats, which range from tawny or light yellow in warm, dry areas to reddish-orange in deep woods. Its fur is marked with rosettes, which are black, irregular patches. Leopards, Panthera pardus, in eastern Africa have spherical spots, while leopards in southern Africa have square ones.

As compared to other large cats, the leopard’s climbing prowess are unrivalled. The muscles used for climbing are especially powerful and have their own dedicated attachment sites on the shoulder blades. Even when hunting and eating, they prefer to remain in the trees. When given the chance, both lions and hyenas will steal a leopard’s meal. In order to avoid this, they will often hide their prey among the branches of trees.

 

Hunting Leopard

Leopard hunting may be the most thrilling adventure imaginable if everything goes smoothly, or the most stressful, exhausting, tedious, and stinky hunt imaginable if things don’t go as planned. It’s a lot like playing chess, where the object is to trick your opponent into a bad situation. When you can’t actively pursue your target, waiting for them to come to you may be both frustrating and exhilarating.   As many a hunter has learned the hard way, a wounded leopard can move with lightning speed, so every shot needs to count.

Bait is typically used when hunting leopards. This animal  can easily ambush an impala if it is hanged from a tree where it can be seen from a nearby blind. The leopard is primarily a nocturnal predator, making it quite challenging to get in position for the shot, as he must be killed during daytime hours in just about all African countries. Although he could be killed with a.270 or 7mm, the.375 is still the legal minimum in most of Africa . Many professional hunters prefer a large calibre rifle.

 

What is Leopard Taxidermy?

Leopards are commonly exhibited with a prey animal in its mouth, making for a truly impressive presentation. Pedestal mounts, skulls, and leopard rugs are also popular ways to show off your trophy.

As much as feasible, we want our trophies to mimic the look and feel of the genuine article. Preparation is the key to success for any taxidermy endeavour involving a leopard. Since our founding more than 40 years and 150,000 superb trophies ago, we have dedicated ourselves to learning about the animals that call this breathtaking area home, and we take great pride in providing knowledgeable and kind assistance to those who share our appreciation for the natural world.

All of our forms have been carefully chosen, and if necessary, we will make no-charge adjustments to the posture. Included free with the purchase of any of our full mount trophies is a base designed to look like the environment in which the animal would have thrived in its natural state. During repair, bullet holes are mended and as many scratches as feasible are removed. The animal will preserve whatever scars it currently has unless you specifically request differently.

 

Skin Preparation for a Flawless Leopard Trophy

Immediately resort to skinning the leopard. You should get the trophy out of the sun as quickly as possible if you’re skinning it in the veld. The corpse soon cools after being rid of the intestines. Never drag the animal. Mark your trophy with care.

Keep the hair from laying in the blood by hanging the carcass as soon as feasible. If there is any additional blood, wash it away.

How you skin the trophy depends on what you plan to do with it. Make sure the skinners know exactly what kind of mount you’re after. Always skin for a full mount if you are on the fence about which style you prefer, shoulder or full.

Remove all the excess fat and meat. When you’ve removed the skin, give it one more rinsing in lukewarm water and wait at least half an hour before salting.

Rub salt into the skin. Depending on what they have on hand, individuals either use dry salt to treat the skin or let it soak in a salt-and-water solution. Salting should start as as soon as the skin is removed and clean.

 

The Leopard Taxidermy Process and Methods

One of our strengths is our extensive familiarity with the flora, fauna, and ecosystems of Africa.  We provide the special touches that really bring the wilderness to life.

The first order of business is to keep the leopard skin in pristine condition.

After we begin processing the trophy, it will be treated with a variety of chemicals to prevent it from decomposing and to maintain its pliability. This is called tanning.

After the skin has been tanned, a mould or shape is created to serve as the base of the taxidermy mount. This form, which can be constructed from foam or fibreglass, must be scaled to the leopard’s actual dimensions and shape. The skin is stretched tightly over the mould by our taxidermist to remove wrinkles and achieve an authentic appearance for the animal. Eyes are mounted correctly, finishing off the creature’s lifelike aspect. Most commonly, this is accomplished by casting an impression of the eye socket and inserting artificial eyeballs made of glass or plastic. At last, the taxidermist arranges the leopard’s fur or adds any additional features to give it its natural appearance.

Our trophies are considered among the best in the world because of their timeless elegance, cutting-edge design, and our rigorous attention to detail.

 

Taking Care of Your Leopard Trophy

Intense exposure to sunlight can ruin your taxidermy collection. It’s best to store the trophy somewhere out of the direct sunlight to prevent it from fading. Don’t put trophies on display in high-traffic areas where they can get knocked over. Don’t keep your leopard taxidermy in a damp environment like a garage or screened-in porch. Another place taxidermy shouldn’t be displayed is above a fireplace, despite the fact that a large mount there could be very appealing.

Long-term success requires constant maintenance of your trophy. If your mount is kept in an environment free of moisture, heat, and sunlight, once a month is sufficient for cleaning. If you reside in a particularly dusty area, you should clean your trophy every other month. We at Life-Form Taxidermy use and sell a product called Medix Africa that will protect your trophy for the long haul.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How Much Does a Leopard Trophy Cost?

The cost of your trophy will be determined by the intricacy of your taxidermy request, the number of trophies you want mounted, and the type of mount you desire. Call us for the most economical rates in South Africa.

How Long does a Leopard Trophy Take?

The time it takes to mount an animal can range from a few weeks to nearly 18 months, depending on the difficulty of the mount, the demand on our taxidermists, and the specifications of your trophy.

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