Rehydration of African animals upon arrival to the states

[mrwalters1973]

Wondering if anyone else has had this issue. We havd hunted 3 consecutive years in South Africa. This past fall all our dip and packed capes are cargo shipped via vessel. All 4 capes from our hunt in 2024 were bad. This was a different outfitter than the first two years. Two capes have red mold which they said could be moisture issue from the ship container. The other two went sent to the US tannery they indicates that they tried everything and they are unable to rehydrate the two capes. Has anyone had this issue with their capes upon arrival from South Africa? They told me they are bad and nothing my taxidermy can do with them.

 

[sureshot375]

My dad had a lion from Zambia that would not rehydrate.

I’ve had a few other hides ruined over the years from insect damage.

 

[mrwalters1973]

Did they say why it would not rehydrate?

 

[Hunt anything]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, hopefully some of the taxidermist here can give you an idea of what happened or maybe they have trick they can use to help you out.

 

[mrwalters1973]

Thank you. Or where I can find replacement capes

 

[Scott CWO]

Thank you. Or where I can find replacement capes

Contact Ray Hatfield at Nature's Design Taxidermy in Cody, WY for capes. He keeps an inventory.

 

[Scott CWO]

More expensive but tell your shipping brokers to use aircraft, usually Turkish Airways.