Warning:
This website explores themes of taxidermy and bat endangerment/extinction, and may be sensitive to some viewers.Images of censored taxidermy will be included. Clicking on the image will reveal the uncensored photos.
What is Taxidermy?
Taxidermy is a practice that preserves an animal's body to reconstruct it after its death. Popular forms of taxidermy involve taking an animal's skin or feathers or saving its skeletal remains.For the former method, the animal's pelt/feathers are removed and placed around a form. A form is similar to a mannequin or a sculpt to mimic the animal's frame, giving it a realistic appearance. However, not all taxidermy aims to be realistic.This practice can be considered as an artistic form and some believe that it is respectful to the animal that passed.However, can the same be said for bats?
Let's Think Hypothetically...
The holidays are coming up, and you decide to search for a gift for a loved one. They have shown interest in taxidermy, so you figure that they would appreciate another addition to their collection.You search online for taxidermy animals that aren't on the pricey side. After some scrolling, you stumble upon bat encased in resin. It stands out to you, so you take a look at the listing.
Clicking the listing takes you to its website, its description complete with details. The listing promotes it as a "creative gift" and states that it serves as a unique addition to one's collection. The seller also clarifies that the bat was bred in captivity, meaning that it is ethically sourced. There are fifteen bats in stock.What will you do?
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You click on the "Add to Cart" button, reassured that the seller has plenty of these resin bats in stock. Something seems off, but since the seller clarified that the bats died of natural causes, it should be okay... right?
> Yes, it is okay! Continue with purchase.
> No, it doesn't seem right. Remove from cart.
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You go ahead and purchase the bat, deciding to trust the seller. Now, you just have to wait for the bat to arrive in the mail.You have a gift for your friend, but you unknowingly bought a bat that was intentionally poached for ornamental use, and most likely illegally traded. Bats are never ethically sourced, and sellers will lie in order to take advantage of people who don't know any better.Next time you find a listing involving a taxidermied bat, the best course of action to take is to report it and stay far away from purchasing another. Websites like eBay and Etsy have been removing many listings, but some still slip through the cracks. Sellers will also migrate to other lesser-known websites to sell their products since there aren't as many restrictions.It is imperative to do research to ensure that you aren't purchasing poached animals. Contacting a reputable seller is the safest option because they will only sell ethically sourced taxidermy.
This scenario was based on a real life experience involving two friends of mine. The receiver of the gift is passionate about taxidermy, so I asked them more questions about the subject.
For more information, click here.
Just to be safe, you remove the listing from the cart. You'd rather buy something else that you would feel more confident about purchasing.You just made a close call. The bat you were about to purchase was poached and most likely illegally traded. Bats are never ethically sourced. Sellers will provide false information in their descriptions or inquiries to take advantage of people who don't know any better. If you come across a listing like this, make sure to report the listing and the seller. Selling taxidermied bats is against the policy of websites like eBay and Etsy, but some listings still slip through the cracks. We must lower the opportunities of people finding these bats.Instead of purchasing a taxidermied bat, it is much better to buy from a reputable seller that creates ethically sourced taxidermy. Doing your own research is also important, so that you know what taxidermy animals are legal to own.
This scenario was based on a real life experience involving two friends of mine. The receiver of the gift is passionate about taxidermy, so I asked them more questions about the subject.
For more information, click here.
The listing doesn't interest you, so you decide not to add it to your cart. You figure that your friend would prefer another taxidermied animal instead. Besides, the listing itself seems fishy, and there aren't any reviews from other customers to disprove your suspicions.Before you go searching for another taxidermy product more suitable for your friend, what do you do?
> Report the listing and the seller.
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You decide to leave the listing alone, deciding that it isn't worth your money.This is one of the best ways to approach this situation. You might not have been aware, but the seller was falsely claiming that the bats were bred in captivity. Bats are never ethically sourced. The bats they are selling have most likely been illegally traded.You might want to consider reporting the listing and the seller so that they are held under review. It is against the policy of websites like eBay and Etsy, which are trying to minimize this problem, but some sellers still slip through their radar. Reporting these sellers will prevent them from selling taxidermied bats, lessening the chance of an unsuspecting person purchasing one.It is imperative to do research before buying a taxidermied animal. There are plenty of reputable sellers who would be more than happy to sell you a taxidermied animal that is ethically sourced.
This scenario was based on a real life experience involving two friends of mine. The receiver of the gift is passionate about taxidermy, so I asked them more questions about the subject.
For more information, click here.
You decide to report the listing as well as the seller to place them under review. For popular e-commerce websites, selling bat taxidermy is against their policy. Taking action like this minimizes the opportunity for sellers to make money off of the bats they kill for taxidermy use.This is the best way to approach a situation of this nature. Bats are never ethically sourced. Sellers will claim that their bats were kept in captivity and died of natural causes, but this is false. Holding bats in captivity is rare and the bats are typically illegally traded.To find taxidermy that is guaranteed to be ethically sourced, you can find a reputable seller that will provide you with the gift that you have been searching for. Remember to do some research beforehand so that you can find legal taxidermy and an approved seller!
This scenario was based on a real life experience involving two friends of mine. The receiver of the gift is passionate about taxidermy, so I asked them more questions about the subject.
For more information, click here.
Interview with Anonymous Friend (A Taxidermy Collector)
Q1: What interests you about taxidermy?A: For me, it's mostly the idea of an animal "living after death" in a sense. The way its beauty can be appreciated even after the animal itself has passed. Some taxidermists will also use pelts as a form of artistic expression, dyeing the hide, or adding different elements such as dried flowers and plants.Q2: Where do you commonly find bat taxidermy, if any?A: Unlike many other animals that are commonly taxidermied, bats are not typically found deceased in the wild, as they decompose quicker than most other animals due to their small size and fragile bones. Though you can find bat carcasses in the wild, they're typically not found in any shape to be taxidermied. Because of this, most bat taxidermies are found via poaching large numbers of bats. In addition to this, in the US, it's typically not legal to keep a found bat carcass, as many bat species are federally protected.Q3: Which bat species are most commonly used for taxidermy?A: The most common taxidermied bat species would have to be the Painted Wooly Bat. Their association with Halloween is part of their demise. Its bright orange color is what makes it stand out from most other bats, and this uniqueness is what draws poachers to them.Q4: Do you have any advice for someone who wants to become a taxidermy hobbyist?A: Research, research, research. Know what species it is that you're collecting and/or have found, get in contact with your local wildlife management service and research what's legal to keep in your area. If you find something cool for sale, check with the seller and ask them how they sourced it. If they don't know, or bought it off someone else, skip out on it and look for someone who's ethically sourcing their product. There's plenty of ethical collectors and sellers out there, but just as many unethical sellers who are just interested in a quick buck from people who dont know any better.Q5: Do you have any advice for someone who wants to buy a taxidermy gift for someone else?A: Again, research what it is that you're buying and who you're buying it from. Or, better yet, go out and find your own bones from your area. Theres plenty of resources out there to help you learn where to look for bones and how to clean them up.
Taxidermy fruit bat (suspected) in resin that my friend was gifted for Christmas.
