Originally posted by John B Taxidermy:
I hear what you're saying, and agree for the most part. In my book "The Breakthrough Art Of The Big Cat Manual" I have a chapter on the collection of habitat materials for the African Lion that was the main subject of the book. In that chapter I tell the reader what to look for in the way of grasses that most closely mimic those of many of the countries of Africa, as well as soil ... both sand and dirt and what states to find them in. Yes ... some of us,
do care!
There are those Taxidermists - like myself - who are willing to pay top dollar for the best of the best in artificial greenery for our African mounts. There is a company that carries some of the absolute finest in artificial greenery of all sorts. Commercial Silk, Inc. out of Minneapolis, MN not only carries Acacia branches but also makes entire Acacia trees! Remember that there are many different species of Acacias, and this is just one of them.
These are high end commercial items that are sold for commercial, wholesale use only, and they are not cheap. This is the company chosen to create the habitats in many if not all the Cabela's Taxidermy displays.
What is difficult to find are the one thing that is uniquely African ... those three-inch or longer thorns! I found the best way to make them available for my African work was to sculpt them, make a mold of them, cast them, and attach them. It is an old method employed by museums in years past, but you know what?
It still works! So have heart! Not all Taxidermists are lazy about habitat!
Kwaheri, and Good Hunting!
John.
John Bellucci's Artistic Wildlife Taxidermy
159 N. Bickett Rd.
Xenia, OH 45385
(937) 376-5597