Within the last few years the number of Polish hunters going out for safari has been constantly growing. Not everybody can afford this expensive hobby and not everybody can be a professional hunter. Jewelers, petrol station owners, businessmen and even bakers head to Namibia, Tanzania or Kamchatka to search for trophies. The only key is money. Every hunter’s dream is to shoot down the big five: lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard. 

Those who can’t afford the exotic safari and the big five, go for hunting to Belarusian forests where one can still shoot the species which are protected in Poland and European Union. Once the big five are dead, hunters prepare the place on their walls to fill them with trophies.

“Everybody wants to have the big five” says a local businessman and hunter form central Poland “My goal is to have the big five multiplied by five.” His hunting house looks like a museum. Dozens of stuffed animals from all over the world hang on his walls. The windows are closed to protect the exhibits from flies. „Everything is legal here” says the owner „I have papers for each animal” he adds immediately. Smuggling of protected species is also part of the business. Every year custom officers prevent few hundreds of endangered animals (some of them still alive) from getting into sole Poland. Taxidermists try to avoid doubtful assignments but not everything can be checked. Business is business.

Local collector and hunter posing for portrait in his trophy hall © Rafał Milach

Taxidermist’s workshop © Rafał Milach

Taxidermist’s workshop © Rafał Milach

Taxidermist’s workshop. Freezer with frozen wild animals © Rafał Milach 

@1 year ago
(± )
#Life After Death #Rafał Milach 

Within the last few years the number of Polish hunters going out for safari has been constantly growing. Not everybody can afford this expensive hobby and not everybody can be a professional hunter. Jewelers, petrol station owners, businessmen and even bakers head to Namibia, Tanzania or Kamchatka to search for trophies. The only key is money. Every hunter’s dream is to shoot down the big five: lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard. 

Those who can’t afford the exotic safari and the big five, go for hunting to Belarusian forests where one can still shoot the species which are protected in Poland and European Union. Once the big five are dead, hunters prepare the place on their walls to fill them with trophies.

“Everybody wants to have the big five” says a local businessman and hunter form central Poland “My goal is to have the big five multiplied by five.” His hunting house looks like a museum. Dozens of stuffed animals from all over the world hang on his walls. The windows are closed to protect the exhibits from flies. „Everything is legal here” says the owner „I have papers for each animal” he adds immediately. Smuggling of protected species is also part of the business. Every year custom officers prevent few hundreds of endangered animals (some of them still alive) from getting into sole Poland. Taxidermists try to avoid doubtful assignments but not everything can be checked. Business is business.

Local collector and hunter posing for portrait in his trophy hall © Rafał Milach

Taxidermist’s workshop © Rafał Milach

Taxidermist’s workshop © Rafał Milach

Taxidermist’s workshop. Freezer with frozen wild animals © Rafał Milach 

1 year ago
#Life After Death #Rafał Milach