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Damaliscus Lunatus Jimela is a subspecies of Topi and is usually just called a Topi. It is a highly social and fast type of antelope found in the savannahs, semi-deserts, and floodplains of sub-Saharan Africa. The Topi is a distinctive headgear that holds great cultural and historical significance in India. It was popularized by Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian independence movement and has since become a symbol of nationalism and patriotism.
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They are medium-sized antelope with a striking reddish-brown to purplish-red coat. The hair colour of the pelage may vary across the different geographic subpopulations, being darker or lighter. Distinct black patches appear on their face, their upper forelegs, and on their hips and thighs. To complete their singular appearance, the Topi’s yellowish-tan legs look like they are encased in stockings.
Although not quite as large as their relative the Hartebeest (Kongoni), Topi have a similar body shape. However, it does not have such a long, narrow head, nor are they as high at the shoulder. Their size is 104 centimetres to 126 centimetres in height (40 to 50 inches) and they weigh 90 to 147 kilograms (198 to 324 pounds). Female Topi are usually lighter in colour than the males. Both sexes have thick, heavily ringed, lyre-shaped horns that are about 30 to 40 centimetres long (11 to 16 inches). Topi have good sight and hearing and can run quite fast with a bounding gait.
Topi are exceptionally gregarious and live in herds of 15 to 20. In some places, it is possible to see herds of hundreds. They have a flexible social structure. Sedentary populations display the usual residence pattern – small herds led by a dominant male. During migratory periods, large numbers of animals congregate together indiscriminately. When the group stops, even if for just a few hours, males establish small, temporary territories in which they shepherd the females. They also spend much of their time with other antelope, such as Wildebeest and Zebra as well as Ostrich.
Calving normally occurs once a year and is timed for periods when grass supplies are plentiful. Nonetheless, Topi are almost as flexible in their reproduction as they are in social organizations. If food supplies are particularly good, then they will conceive at different times of the year, with shorter intervals between calves. Females have also developed the ability to stall the labour process if they sense immediate danger.
The vast majority of births occur between October and December with half of them occurring in October. The fidelity of a female to a territory can last three years in the Serengeti. The females in these territories function as part of the resident male’s harem. These herds tend to be closed (except when new females are accepted) and both the male and his females defend the territory.
Topi prefer pastures with green grass that is medium in height with leaf-like swards. Topi are more densely populated in areas where green plants last into the dry season, particularly near water. When foraging for food, Topi tend to take small bites at a fast rate.
Main predators of the Topi are Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Hyena, Hunting Dog and humans. They have a lifespan of up to 15 years in the wild.
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The largest number of Topi are found in Southern Sudan and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Their favourite habitats are floodplains, but they are sometimes found in dry areas of open savannah and park woodland, taking to the shade during the heat of the day.
Topi taxidermy is the art of preserving the Topi 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.
When making an Topi 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 Topi will be chosen after taking your measurements into account, and the posture of your form will be changed at no extra cost. Full-mount Topi trophies come with bases made to look like the animal’s natural habitat and made just for the Topi mount.
The taxidermy process at Life-Form takes your prized Topi 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 Topi 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.
