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.

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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. Petersburg, Russia, would have to force their way into Finland told that private Russian taxidermists use the cheapest supplies possi- in order to survive. The Finnish economy would be stressed to sup- ble for greater profitability. However, when I arrived at their studio, I port all these people and might fail itself. So, I believe we support was excited and relieved to find truly high quality taxidermy that the Russian economy to neutralize the devastation that an economic demonstrated both advancement and understanding. I believe I had collapse would create. Don’t expect the Russian economy to rebound the fortune to visit one of the finest taxidermy studio in Russia. anytime soon. However, realize the importance of preventing eco- As I began to talk with Vladimir and Alexander, I was shocked to nomic failure and why we finance Russia. I guess that I would have learn that taxidermy, as a business, has only existed since the fall of to conclude this thought by saying that the Russian mafia and gov- communism. It was explained to me that taxidermy was never on a ernment are going to continue to get richer without great growth in “list” of professions within the communist system, therefore, was free-markets and capitalism. I find this very sad, having seen beggars never a recognized profession. Anyone who wanted to do taxidermy with starving babies on the streets of St. Petersburg. had to do it secretly, on his own. This is a perfect example of how Okay, okay. I got off the topic of taxidermy. Actually, I didn’t get communism wastes the human spirit of progress and motivation off the topic of taxidermy. This economic suppression is forced on instead of helping it thrive and help make an economy stronger. the Russian people by the government and mafia, and prevents them This studio was more than a taxidermy studio. It was also a devel- from building wealth and developing the disposable income necessary oping supply company. I describe it that way because every animal to support sport hunting. Obviously, without sport hunting, there is that they mount is an original sculpture and pose. Vladimir and no taxidermy (except for museums). Most Russians still live in large Alexander not only lead Russian taxidermists in using polyurethane flats (apartments) that were built under communist control, by pris- foam mannikins, they also create clay sculptures from which they oners. The communist system did not allow for any extravagance. create fiberglass molds. Just as we do here in the United States, they Therefore, an individual was only allotted the living space he or she then create a foam mannikin by pouring liquid foam into a mold, “needed.” These flats provide only enough space for living, and do letting it rise and cure, and then separating a foam mannikin that is not allow extra space for developing a business, such as taxidermy. used in a mount. Anyone who has the desire to become a taxidermist finds it much By producing their own sculptures and molds, Vladimir and more difficult to develop a business than we do in the United States. Alexander have started and are developing the first taxidermy supply Even though the economic and cultural barriers make it hard for company. However, when I asked them what their sales were on Russians to succeed, I met two taxidermists who have beat the odds Page 82 BREAKTHROUGH Issue 59 AROUND THE WORLD mannikins, I was surprised to learn that they are unable to sell them. When I asked why, I discovered that the rumor of Russian taxider- mists being frugal was true. Russian taxidermists are unwilling to buy foam mannikins, even if the resulting mounts will be of better quality. Russian taxi- dermists don’t have the money to purchase foam mannikins, even if they I was particularly interested when I spotted a pedestal fish mount ready for paint- wanted to. Anything, such ing. The fish closely resembled a walleye, but on further inspection, I noticed dif- ferences in the head structure, which had similarities to a largemouth bass. I fig- as straw or string, etc., is ured this fish must be some kind of a subspecies of our walleye. Oh yeah, did I used to fill and get a com- mention the size of this walleye? It was over 40 inches! I guess they grow them pleted mount. This is easy big in Russia! This fish was caught in the Neva River, which runs through St. Pe- tersburg. From looking at the river, I don’t think I would want to eat the meat from to understand in an econ- this fish, or any other! Alexander and Vladimir have earned many certificates in omy in which survival is taxidermy, as well as winning a Second Place at the European Taxidermy Cham- such a struggle. So, pionships. Vladimir and Alexander continue their sculpting and the development of their Their display room also included a lynx, moose and boar. supply company, with only the hope that the Russian economy will someday rebound, and taxi- wildlife population. dermists will have the money to The result would be purchase their mannikins. fewer acres available The taxidermy that Vladimir for hunting through- and Alexander perform is 100 out the United States. percent original. First, they speak A decrease in deer with a client about what type of kills would result, pose he or she would like for creating less revenue the mount. From that first to support the taxi- conference, they develop a dermy profession. To Left to right are Alexander, me and Vladimir. Vladimir miniature clay sculpture of secure a future for and Alexander are truly accomplished artists and taxi- dermists. I would like to congratulate them on their the pose and habitat of the taxidermy, the most success in a tough economy, as well as to thank mount. They once again meet important thing we them for their hospitality during my visit to Russia. with the customer to show him the need to protect is the miniature clay sculpture. If this is what the natural habitat which sustains our precious wildlife. This is a daunt- customer desires, they begin sculpting the lifesize mannikin in prepa- ing task, considering that human habitat (houses, apartments, golf ration for mounting. The finished mount will be identical in every courses, shopping malls, tennis courts, and interstate highways) will way to the smaller sculpture. almost always take precedence over wildlife habitat. Every step is performed and completed in their studio, and all Regarding how Russia possibly reflects the future of taxidermy in supplies are made themselves. Because of the large selection of taxi- the United States, quite simply, without disposable income, there is dermy supplies available in the United States, it may be hard for you less taxidermy performed. Therefore, fewer people can afford the to imagine the effort that goes into each of their mounts. Just imag- luxury of having a mount done or investing in a taxidermy educa- ine for a minute if you had to produce all your own supplies, includ- tion. Never forget that taxidermy is a luxury, and luxuries are sacri- ing mannikins! I would have to say that your workload would be far ficed in economic hard times. more than double. It is also fair to say that you would have to have The opinions I have written in this article are personal and obvi- much more knowledge. Mounting an animal is one thing, but creat- ously open for discussion. If you would like to discuss these topics ing an accurate original mannikin is another. Yet Vladimir and further, I would enjoy hearing from you. At minimum, the opinions Alexander have mastered all stages of taxidermy, from an original are food for thought. Thinking never hurt anyone; lack of thinking mannikin to a finished mount. can be devastating. In conclusion, I believe one aspect of the state of taxidermy in DAN RINEHART is from Janesville, Wisconsin. He has won three Europe reflects what could happen to taxidermy in the United States. International Fish Taxidermy Championships (IGT) and one Interna- Because of the expansion of human population, wildlife habitat could tional Fish Carving Championship (IGT). In his spare time, he loves to be decreased to a point which would cause a substantial decrease in travel.

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