Preservation of wildlife

THIS taxidermy bird specimen is one of many in the natural history collection at The Box.

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Taxidermy might seem strange or old-fashioned, but it’s actually an important tool that enables people to teach and learn more about the huge range of life on our planet. Good taxidermists need a great deal of skill, experience and knowledge to capture the essence of an animal and display it in a correct and appropriate way.

If it’s done well, taxidermy does justice to nature and can be much more impactful than a model, photograph or digital recreation.

This example has been done well. It’s a ruff (Calidris pugnax, formerly Philomachus pugnax) a fascinating medium-sized wading bird that belongs to the sandpiper family and which is named for the spectacular ornamental collar that males develop during its breeding season.