I was recently contacted by my taxidermist in RSA and he was pleased to let me know that all of my trophies were ready, but that they were still waiting on my zebra and blue wildebeest flatskins to come back from the tannery. He explained that due to the rise of the rand against the dollar that several tanneries went out of business last year and those still in business are swamped. Can any of our RSA forum members please confirm. Thanks.

Yes, that is a fact, and all tanneries are pretty slow, its a process that cannot be rushed, but RSA tanneries are the worlds best as they have on OSHA to contend with...

Thanks Ray. Did not know OSHA regulations were applicable in RSA!

quote:

Bwanahile
one of us

posted 20 April 2005 00:53
I was recently contacted by my taxidermist in RSA and he was pleased to let me know that all of my trophies were ready, but that they were still waiting on my zebra and blue wildebeest flatskins to come back from the tannery.

Very few taxidermists would tan a zebra flat skin themselves. They do tend to send flat skins to one of the specialist tanneries like Oasis Tanning Co (Pty) Ltd
http://www.oasistanning.co.za/ As usual, or should I say "As always"? Ray is quite right: Tanning is a process that you cannot rush.

In good hunting,

Andrew McLaren

I'm not to sure about the rand/dollar rate putting tanneries out of business but I do know for a fact that the local ostrich industry took a major knock due to disease and subsequent banning on export of Ostrich product... meant that a number of business reliant on ostrich hide and leather products have gone under.

As for local tanneries being very busy, I checked this out today with my brother-in-law who is in business with Chris Van Der Merwe owner Oasis tannery; his response was that while they are busy, their turn around on zebra flat skins is 3 to 4 months.

On the contrary, the major Taxidermists in RSA are truly swamped with longer lead times than the tanneries...I have first hand experience of this with a number of trophies for myself and clients.

I must say there is a taxidermist in Koppies Free State who do their own tannery and it looks and feels great been there 3 times since july last year and all the times I was there they had nice skins and were busy with more so they are busy but good at it as well the prices are swell as well.

If anyone would liek to contact the taxidermist who is a she called Louise here is their website not at all showing off what they can do but all the contact detaisl are there.

http://www.demoedtaxidermy.co.za/

The best tannery is Oasis. I take all my skins there personaly and never waited for more than 5 months. Their work is always top quality. I've been through their tannery, they do everything very proffesionaly.