Taxidermist: Stephan Bezuidenhout

Taxidermy is an art form where the practitioner preserves dead animals by crafting models from their preserved skin. People who work in this area are known as taxidermists. Many taxidermists work to create models that are similar to animals in nature, while others create hybrid or fantasy creatures made from different animal parts. Stephan Bezuidenhout, a taxidermist at Nyati Wildlife Art, said that taxidermy is a meticulous craft that requires attention to detail as well as an artistic vision.



Taxidermists must also be familiar with animal anatomy and have skills in carpentry, woodworking, tanning, moulding, drawing, sculpting, and casting. In addition, this field allows individuals to use their artistic skills and vision to preserve animals for artistic and educational purposes.



"You will need to be familiar with fur and feather texture and colouring and must have strong hand-eye coordination. However, taxidermy is not for the cowardly. Taxidermists must be okay with getting a little messy, as this career involves dealing with dead animals and preserving the skin," he said.