Taxidermy & the Law

Specimen Origin

Were taxidermy items come from?
I am glad people do enquire as to the origin of the items used in our trade, as our world has a big problem with the destruction of our wildlife and its habitat. We all need to look after this planet if we want future generations to enjoy the diversity we are currently privileged to.

The only way a good taxidermist can work is to have a great love and respect for the beauty of the world's creatures. Many taxidermists myself included help were possible charities supporting wildlife.
The vast majority of the items I get in are killed by the British public (albeit indirectly but it may make you think).

In the UK there is an estimated:

104 million animals killed by road traffic and rail accidents
90 million animals killed by the Domestic Cat
Thousands more killed by flying into windows
Thousands killed by power cables including some Golden Eagles
Sea birds killed by oil and Chemical Pollution
Otters sea birds and Dolphins killed due to fishing techniques
Hundreds trapped by our discarded refuse (I even had a little Owl killed by a Golf Ball)
Thousands displaced due to new housing development
Thousands killed by pesticides, eat organic its not just yourself that will benefit.
A considerable number killed by radiation from transmitter masts.one client working at a station found about thirty goldfinches proberly the whole flock.

The above gives you a good idea of some of the causes of death. There are more items dying of natural causes or (killed by man as above) each day than all the UK taxidermists in the UK could ever do. If you are concerned about our wild life please visit my link page
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Taxidermy, You & The Law

The laws concerning the purchase or possession of natural history specimens can be a little confusing. Should you come across a protected dead wild creature (this means everything except game birds shot in season and certain pest species ) and wish to have it preserved, you must consider how the subject met its death.

Once you are satisfied that the cause of death was not illegal, make a note of all circumstances surrounding the death then contact your taxidermist. If you are unable to ascertain the cause, the information you do have can help your taxidermist to decide if your specimen can be mounted.
The taxidermist must have this information to hand if it is requested by an authorized person.

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Purchasing Birds & Mammals

I hold stocks of both frozen and ready mounted specimens and must be able to provide full information for each specimen. It would be unwise to purchase modern taxidermy that has no label or marker referring to the taxidermist and there record number. If you purchase an unmarked specimen you will have no way of proving that it was acquired legally.

Certain British species are protected because of their rarity and these must have a permit to be sold. Endangered foreign species are covered by C.I.T.E. and also need permits, because the status of any specimen and legislation can change in the future, it is wise to keep a record of any in your possession.
All my items carry full data/licence and will comply with the currant legislation . Top

UK Law

In the UK any Taxidermist wishing to sell a protected item must be registered with the Department of Environment Transport and the Regions (DETR) and obtain a licence to sell any item falling into the current perimeters of the law for that specimen.
Below is a sample of my log sheet this has been shown to the RSPB and the DETR and met with there approval as a standard Guidance log sheet .

Any person bringing me an item will need to complete a log sheet as below:

Our log books are always available to the authorities to inspect.

Log sheet 2004

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NOTE NEW LOG SHEET FOR 2004 Taxidermists you can download for free and amend to suit. Download log 2004 in word format
(PC right click save as)

My Label

A label similar to this needs to be fixed to any protected item sold in the UK
When a protected item requiring a licence is sold, I give the licence with the specimen.
Our log books are always available to the authorities for inspection.

Lable

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Selling Items

If you have an item of Taxidermy and wish to sell it you may need to get a licence for it the above log sheet show's the typical amount of information required (Specimen Origin ) to apply for a licence get in touch with DETR The DETR Rm8/22 Tollgate House Bristol BS2 9DJ. UK
Antique items if the item is obviously an antique it may be exempt from some of the legislation but it is advised that you check.

I support wildlife charities;
some of my favourites ones are in my link page. Please take a look.

Export

If you are wanting to take an item out of the UK you must check with your
equivalent to the Department of the environment that you can import the item.
Typically they will want to see a copy of any licence and it is a very
straight forward process an export licence may
be needed at this end but I can sort that out.

For More information on taxidermy and the Law import export see the

DETR Contact
The DETR Rm8/22 Tollgate House Bristol BS2 9DJ. UK

http://www.defra.gov.uk/exports/default.htm

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