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St. Petersburg, Russia, Would Have to Force Their Way Into Finland Told That Private Russian Taxidermists Use the Cheapest Supplies Possi- in Order to Survive

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St. Petersburg, Russia, Would Have to Force Their Way Into Finland Told That Private Russian Taxidermists Use the Cheapest Supplies Possi- in Order to Survive Petrehoff was the summer palace of Peter the Great. The day I visited Petrehoff was during the summer and the starting of the fountains. It was beautiful! A Look at Taxidermy Around the World St. Petersburg RUSSIA by Dan Rinehart T IS A TRUE PLEASURE FOR ME TO WRITE THIS ARTICLE! Hav- hunters. Our advantage is known as “public land with easy access,” ing been involved in taxidermy almost since the day I was which makes it possible to hunt even if you do not own property. born, I have learned the ins and outs of every level and area This is not as common in Europe. The land in Europe is almost all of taxidermy within the United States. Recently, I visited privately-owned, which limits hunting to land owners and clubs, Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Holland. It has been an honor which are very expensive. The private control of land limits hunting Ito travel and meet fellow taxidermists throughout the world, and to to a much smaller group of people. Also, it is much more difficult to learn of their profession and cultures. The knowledge I have acquired become certified to hunt in most of Europe. You must attend special in my travels has allowed me to gain a new perspective on the state classes in which you must demonstrate your accuracy as a marksman of taxidermy throughout the world. This perspective has enabled me as well as your ability to identify animals. So, even though sport to formulate an individual insight into world economies and cultures. hunting in Europe is healthy, it more limited due to the geographical In regard to taxidermy, what I have learned about taxidermy through- limitations imposed by human population. out the world allows me to formulate an educated opinion of the While sport hunting in Europe is affected by geographical limita- direction and future of taxidermy within the United States. Please tions, hunting in the former Soviet Union is limited by economical take notice that this article will combine facts with personal opinions and cultural barriers. Traveling to Russia was truly an eye-opening that my experiences have provided. experience! (I once thought a night in New Orleans during Mardi Before I go any further, I believe that the United States offers the Gras was shocking!) Well, experiencing an entirely new culture that best economy, culture, and geography for taxidermy. The reasons for has been developed under completely different principles and beliefs this belief are many, and I’ll highlight a few to demonstrate my took much getting used to. The economical variable that limits sport beliefs. hunting in Russia comes down to one thing—MONEY, which they How can the state of taxidermy in Europe possibly reflect the don’t have much of. You have to have disposable income in order to future of taxidermy in the United States? In simple terms, the United hunt. The Russian economy is so depressed that only a very, very States is younger and offers more land (per person) than most of select group of people is able to hunt. The people that have the Europe. Being that we are younger, we have had less time to grow disposable income to hunt are mostly government officials or “new and populate the land. Even though Europe has been the site of Russian mafia.” many wars, the population has grown to be more dense than in the While we are on the topic of Russian government and mafia, I United States. Since there is a direct negative correlation between would like to deviate from the topic of hunting for awhile and focus human population growth and wildlife population growth, a more on a global economic problem (stay with me, I have a reason for populated land mass, such as Europe, has less space for wildlife. As this). In general, the Russian government and the mafia are one and hunters in the United States, we have an advantage over European the same. The mafia pays government officials to ensure that they are Page 80 BREAKTHROUGH Issue 59 AROUND THE WORLD allowed to perform their black market business without hindrance had to compete against from the government. The government officials depend on the mafia Al Capone?! Any aver- for kickbacks that allow them to become wealthy. Both the govern- age, free-market individ- ment and the mafia depend on each other for their wealth. When ual would realize that the Soviet Union fell, the mafia and the government RACED to see such a large tax and who could make the most money by selling off the assets of Russia competitive environ- before the other. If you think that there are not Russian nuclear ment is ridiculous and warheads in the hands of dangerous individuals and groups, think would strangle any again. business. Well, he would The people who lose from this unwritten agreement between the be right. There is no government and the mafia are the average Russians. It is IMPOSSIBLE way to do honest busi- for honest business people to be successful in Russia! Think about this. ness in Russia. So, how Would you be able to remain in business if the United States govern- do the very few honest ment demanded that you pay over 80 percent in sales tax and you businesses make it in Russia? Well, they are not completely honest, that’s how. They don’t pay the taxes (at least, all the taxes). You would assume that the Russian This is a fox that was on display in their studio. Fox- “IRS” would be doing es in Russia are huge! A medium-size fox would be much larger than a large fox here in the United something about this. States. They are almost the size of an average dog. Well, nothing is done They are something to see! about it because the lack of taxes provides insufficient government funding to enforce the taxes. You can see that it is a vicious circle that makes absolutely no sense, that is, to me. The final result is that the close relationship between the government and the mafia make it difficult for capital- ism to survive and grow. So, let me ask you this question: why should the United States and the economies of the world provide bil- lions of dollars to a country that is not truly committed to the growth of free-markets and capitalism? The answer is simple. In order to promote world stability, the World must be willing to finance a faulty economy and keep it afloat. We can be certain that millions of dollars of funding are being wasted and find- ing their way into the This is the business procedure of Russian taxidermists Vladimir Sukcharev and pockets of the govern- Alexander Sokolov. First, they meet with ment and mafia. How- the customer to determine the pose. Then ever, the alternative they develop a miniature clay sculpture of the pose and habitat. Once the customer would be a total col- approves the clay sculpture, they begin lapse of the Russian sculpting a lifesize mannikin in prepara- economy. Such a col- The most exciting mount I saw in their studio was tion for mounting. lapse would have a far this jumping Kodiak bear, designed and mounted to be suspended in midair from the ceiling above Here you can see Vladimir holding the more devastating impact a pool table. I misunderstood and believed the bear miniature clay sculpture next to the com- on the world (Europe was for Russian President Boris Yeltsin. I recently pleted mount. The finished mount is iden- and Scandinavia espe- learned that it was not for Yeltsin, but for a presi- tical in every way to the smaller sculpture dent of a big company. Nevertheless, it was a very and is now ready for the customer. cially). If such a collapse exciting and special mount. BREAKTHROUGH Issue 59 Page 81 AROUND THE WORLD During my visit, Vladimir and his assistant were finishing the sewing and facial work on a very large wolf. Again, the mannikin was an original sculpture. and developed a very successful taxidermy business. Vladimir Sukcharev and Alexander Sokolov own and manage one of the pre- mier taxidermy studios in Russia. When I first arrived in Russia, I was introduced to taxidermists and the curator at the Zoological Museum of St. Petersburg. I had a meeting with these people, and it was at this time that I was introduced to Vladimir and Alexander. At the time, I didn’t know that they were private taxidermists in business for themselves. I was very excited when Vladimir and Alexander told me about their private business and invited me to visit their studio. This was my chance to see true Russian taxidermy and witness how St. Isaac’s Cathedral is one of the largest and most beautiful cathedrals in all of the art of taxidermy has developed since the collapse of the Soviet Russia. The inside walls are covered with giant religious paintings that have been Union. I made plans to visit their studio the following night. restored since the fall of communism, when they were not allowed. I had no idea what to expect. The only exposure I’d had with taxidermy in Russia was at the Museum of St. Petersburg. Although I were to occur, millions of Russians would have no alternative but to was hoping for something special during my visit with Vladimir and force their way into neighboring countries. For example, the people Alexander, I didn’t expect anything above average. Furthermore, I was of St.
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