Taxidermy is the art of 'stuffing' the bodies of dead animals.

Generally, the skin of the animal is removed from the carcass, treated in order to preserve it, and then stretched over a form, and carefully sewn into place. The real claws and whiskers are often included. Sometimes the real teeth may be used, although sometimes the entire mouth is plastic. Adhesive clay is used to install glass eyes, plastic gums/tongue, plastic noses, and other elements, as these soft tissues cannot be preserved as well as the skin. Paint and varnish may also be added. The entire process requires extreme patience, skill, and knowledge of anatomy, sculpture and biology.

Animals are often 'mounted' or 'reproduced'- Meaning they are displayed as they appeared in life. Alternatively, the bodies may be preserved through alternative, unconventional methods:

- Bodies, in part or in whole, may be used as elements of an artistic piece or sculpture. Additionally, preserved bodies/body parts may be displayed as novelties, jewellery or decoration. These works of art are described as macabre, "having a grim or ghastly atmosphere. Macabre works emphasize the details and symbols of death."
- "Rogue taxidermy" is creation of stuffed animals which do not have real counterparts, such as jackalopes and griffins.
- Mummification.
- Preserving in liquid.
- Esodermy utilizes parts of the animal that may be discarded, generally the carcass and skeleton. This may also include organs such as the heart, which carries a lot of symbolism.

Some people find the sight of a dead animal unsightly, sickening or offensive, even disrespectful to the animal in question. I do find the preservation and display of hunted animals all of these things. Killing an animal for the purpose of displaying it is perverting the justification and reason for preservation.

However, the use of animals that were "destroyed" -- euthanized abandoned animals, deaths in the pet trade, unwanted or 'waste' livestock from farms, 'pest' animals, and roadkill -- is not abhorrent to me. Preserving these animals is giving them a second chance, one they were not given in life, to be revered and respected. Personally, I find preservation a fascinating way of honoring the dead. Similar can be said for animals that died of natural causes. In some cases they may have been old friends and loved ones that we choose to preserve in remembrance. It is an act of admiration for their beauty, and to reflect on the memories or emotions associated with them.

These artworks are a reminder of the duality of existence: Life does and cannot exist without death. Death is inevitable. We are meant to die. No matter how the body is immortalized, their existence (both physical and spiritual) is forever changed; death is permanent and irreversible. Death is the ultimate change.
They also provoke important and moving questions about how we view our own death, and the death of others:
Does the soul exist separate from the body, or does it die along with it?
Does a body "belong" to anyone when it does not contain a consciousness?
What do we owe the dead, if anything?
What will become of my body after I die?
Is death the end, or the culmination?
Do I fear death?

What do you think of taxidermy? Have you ever seen a stuffed animal before? Have you ever collected a skull before? Would you get your pet stuffed, or is that too creepy?

I should close this, since it's creepy and icky and gross and you stole my idea.  But if I did, that would be an abuse of power and you'd beat me up   If you're stuffing a companion to preserve their memory... Would you stuff your grandma or relative you really liked?  I think your body is the only physical thing you will ever own in this life, you can never truly own property or land.  I guess when the life is over though, then you become an object and people can do what they will with you.  I would guess that the reason we have this "respect for the dead" comes out of our own squeamishness and reluctance to handle our dead, maybe also out of basic instinct to stay away from dead things because what killed it could kill you.  I think taxidermy is messed up and weird, but you art types are into that stuff, so if you're cool with it then it's cool I guess.

BTowns : Some people are preserved after death, usually because they wish to be. There are plenty of examples of human remains being preserved and even used as decoration (usually bones in the case of decoration, though). Would I get my grandma stuffed after she died? Only if she expressed that she wanted to be.

Annette :   But does your pet express a desire to be stuffed?  What if Pixie really doesn't want to be preserved but you decided she should be?  Or gross little Nephi, even.  Because they can't express their own wishes, or probably even comprehend being preserved, does that, in your opinion, give us the right to do what we will with their remains?

BTowns : If I wanted to remember her using that method I don't think there's anything wrong with that. It's not disrespectful to her memory & that is not my intent. Since she is a small bird I would probably put her in a jar. But personally I would not try to preserve her without assistance from someone who knows exactly what they are doing.

Annette : maybe its not in canada but im fairely sure in most places stuffing/mounting humans is illegal.
As for stuffing pets i wouldnt do that.1st it would be depressing seeing that face everyday and knowing hes dead,2nd i would see removing his skin as mutilating him,so i couldnt do it.
On the note of stuffing random animals if the point was to eat it i dont mind,since its already dead at least people can learn from it,plus i think its pretty disrespectfull to just throw bits away.
That was a very thurough lesson on something i evidently didnt know much about.is there a reason you knew this or did you just look it up

thenumberone : I didn't necessarily mean stuffing/mounting people (that would be slightly more weird), I meant preserving as in embalming. Like The Pope, hehe. I am sure you need to go through a lot of legal rigamarol to do it, not to mention it can be very expensive. Most people prefer to have their bodies prepared for brief display in the casket. Anywho, I seriously doubt my grandma would want that, Bryce was just asking a "what if" question.

I know lots about it because I like it and I am very interested in it (obviously). Dead bodies can stir up a lot of emotions, but they don't necessarily bother me except for:
1. The initial shock of seeing it, such as discovering my pet is dead.
2. Sadness when seeing an animal or person that obviously died painfully.
3. An overwhelming smell of rotting, but it has to be pretty bad for me to not be able to deal with it.

Annette : theyve got one of the russian leaders preserved as he died years ago on public display in moscow.
As soon as i saw the discusion on your grandma my mind wandered to an episode of the show jack*ss where he actualy takes an old woman into a taxidermist office and asks if they can stuff her,you can see the manager feels awkward,lol.
I saw a massive stuffed fish once but it was rotting pretty bad which was horrible.
Personaly i wouldnt see the point in embalming,i think when your dead youre dead.il donate my organs to those that need them,and be buried so the energy goes back to the earth,so more life can grow.an extreme of preservation would be cryo storage which is even more expensive.

If you ask me, I think taxidermy is really creepy.

You know how when you see an alive deer, it looks natural, and belongs on Earth. Now, compare it to a stuffed deer. The stuffed one is unnatural looking, and is quickly out of place. 

I think they should just use the fur as pelts for clothing, not a stuffed deer... 

(I'm using a deer as a example, FYI.)