Going beneath the skin to study taxidermy

MUMBAI: With a spurt in museums and nature information centres across the country, the art of taxidermy is fast gaining popularity, but few people in the country are versed in it.
Taxidermy involves stuffing an animal body and preserving it for display bymaking it appear life-like.
Dr Santosh Gaikwad, who runs the taxidermy centre in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), is among the rare breed of taxidermists in India."In India, there are just a handful of practising taxidermists. But there is a growing demand across the country from various government agencies and institutes for animals to be stuffed and preserved."
In fact, with growing awareness and various museums being set up by zoos and forest departments, the art is getting an unanticipated fillip, encouraging more people to take it up as a profession.
Dr Gaikwad, who is also associate professor at the Bombay Veterinary College adds, "I got the sanction of the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) for practising taxidermy. Now I preserve wild animals, birds, fishes and even poultry for agencies like the forest department, Central Poultry Development Organisation, Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth and Fisheries Survey of India etc. Currently, I'm also stuffing a snow leopard, which was sent by the zoo officials in Uttarakhand."
But, with very few taxidermy institutes in the city, one of the major disadvantages for budding taxidermists is the lack of a structured course. Dr Gaikwad, who studied anatomy at Bombay Veterinary College, however, remains optimistic: "I have not pursued any professional course in taxidermy myself and have learnt by observing and practising the art."
But a career in taxidermy needs just more than a course and one has to be creative, observant and passionate about animals. One can pursue a five-year undergraduate course in veterinary science and animal husbandry from the Bombay Veterinary College, Nagpur Veterinary College, KNP College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Shirwal and College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Udgir. Students could also take up a diploma in veterinary science and animal husbandry after HSC (science) from Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Nagpur. It covers various aspects of animal anatomy that could be useful while practicing taxidermy.
Along with anatomy, one can even take up basic courses in painting, sculpting, leather tanning and basic carpentry. Knowledge of these subjects is a must to master taxidermy.