I learned Friday that my leopard skin was stolen from the taxidermy shop. A Texas Ranger and the Sheriffs Dept. are investigating and may have some leads. I am wondering how many of you have had skins/mounts stolen.
I lost a Zebra rug somewhere between the taxidermist and shipping to my home?
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Posts: 2122 | Location: Arkansas | Registered: 03 June 2000
I will have the skull and claws (I believe) The Sheriffs Office and Ranger have cleared the taxidermist to the degree they can and he has accepted full responsibility. You know you feel like you've taken hard punch when this kind of nonsense happen. I despise thieves.
By taking full responsibility is he going to replace it by paying for another hunt for you? What's he going to do by way of taking full responsibility since you have to obtain Cites permits, etc? Not to mention that a leopard hunt is not a guaranteed hunt.
T- Not bashing law enforcement, but sometimes their "procedures" get in the way of quick, common sense solutions. If you have those leads and are so inclined put a private party who specializes in this sort of investigation.
You know stealing something and presenting it as one's own effort is really perverted and unmanly. I visited by phone with two friends over the past few days and they related their stories to me. One had his lion and leopard stolen. A friend spotted the lion in a taxid. shop outside of Phoenix and John walked into the shop told the guy, "That's my lion!" and took it home. He never saw his leopard again though. My other friend had a very nice sable stolen.
I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I had a both left horns from my klippie and steenbok stolen between Zim and California. They didn't take my Leopard though. Since the Leopard is a CITES animal, you should contact USFWS and give then some photos of the cat and any unusual markings. Don't count on local law enforcement to do it.
Posts: 470 | Location: SYRACUSE, UT, USA | Registered: 13 May 2002
What city did the taxiderist work in. My friend has lost a Mt. goat to a guy in Victoria---lawyer is now involved. I lost my buff hide-- kudu & others to a worm who took a deposit then sat on them for a year while telling us the hides were being processed.
They were being processed by rats who demolished them. This guy isn't worth the cost of a bullet and the trouble it would bring. Live and learn. Lee
Posts: 208 | Location: San Antonio | Registered: 14 July 2004
I had a zebra skin (archery kill) that magically disappeared from a taxidermist. The same taxidermist also sent my 47" bow killed kudu horns (My first ever archery kill) to me along with the rest of my shipment. The only problem was the horns I received were 31" immature horns from some unfortunate baby kudu.
Greater Karoo Taxidermy in Graff Reinett South Africa. Careful boys and girls!
Originally posted by KINO: BTW, USFWS can walk into any taxidermy shop without warrant and demand to see any CITES or migratory animal and the required paperwork.
I will call them tomorrow. I had thought of it before but I don't have much confidence in the Feds and so didn't pick up the phone.
Tough deal. Very disappointing, but at least you have the photos. Can always have one blown up and nicely framed and matted. Not the same, but still not a bad way to memorialize a terrific adventure.
I wish you luck. Haven't lost one myself, though I did have to threaten to contact a lawyer (named, and not bluffing) on a zebra skin that had been at the tanners for over 2 years. Yeah. Sure. Got it back shortly after that.
If the skin is found somewhere, but if there is a dispute over whether its yours or not, remember the Police should be able to match the DNA from the Skull or claws to prove it...You might have to push them to go to those lengths, but I'd say it would be worth it...
If it was stolen form his shop, then he shoudl have some sort of insurance. Tell him the value is $5,000 or $10,000 or whatever, but make sure you want the value to replace, not just the cost of his work. Then take that money and go again.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
Posts: 2582 | Location: Western New York | Registered: 30 December 2003
It sounds like you have a thought as to where the skin is. If that is the case, hire the right people and go get it. Law enforcement is going to be too slow. The right people might be willing to pose as USFWS. Not that one should advocate such action.... There have been a couple of threads here recently and on other sites were the credibility of certain taxidermists has been questioned. There are some great folks in the business but the industry does seem to have more than a fair share of low rent scumbubbles. If you do know the whereabouts of the skin and they get onto that you are not going to have a chance. Good luck.
Tough deal. Very disappointing, but at least you have the photos. Can always have one blown up and nicely framed and matted. Not the same, but still not a bad way to memorialize a terrific adventure. 
