Taxidermy (ˈtaksɪˌdəːmi). noun. from Ancient Greek τάξις ‎(táxis, “arrangement”, “order”) + δέρμα ‎(dérma, “skin”). the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals with lifelike effect for display (e.g., as hunting trophies or museum display) or for other sources of study (species identification) or simply the preservation of a beloved pet. (Source: Wikipedia)

Either you are at a university or a museum, a park or a resting area, a restaurant or a souvenir shop located in Hokkaido, you will definitely notice at least one taxidermied animal. Their fondness to taxidermy is very obvious, with the basic reason of showcasing the animals native to Hokkaido.

As Hokkaido boasts its dangerous brown bear, so it is not unusual to see taxidermied brown bears in any part of Hokkaido. Aside from the “higuma” (Japanese for the Hokkaido brown bears), other stuffed animals include the Hokkaido red fox, the deers, birds and rodents that are residents to this Japanese prefecture.

My university is not an exception for Hokkaido’s penchant for taxidermy. There is a small section in one building in my university dedicated for the Hokkaido animals. Since it is a veterinary school, it is a must for them to show the rich fauna of Hokkaido. The “Nature Lounge”, as it is called, is like a mini-museum of taxidermied animals in Obihiro University.

As usual, there is a bear, a deer, a red fox, rodents and birds featured in the lounge. This might interest the foreigners who visit the university every now and then.

I remembered when I was in the primary school, our room has some taxidermied dogs and cats. I don’t understand why they were put there but they are kinda creepy. I don’t even want to touch them. Taxidermists are even portrayed in films like 101 Dalmatians as serial killer-looking professionals, when in fact they should be shown as well-crafted artists.

But now, these stuffed animals are informative. It gives us a chance to see or even hold these wild animals up close and personal… and not breathing.