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Pictured
BUTCHERED FOR TROPHIES

Inside the Namibian taxidermy factory where more than 6,000 lions, elephants and giraffes are stuffed every year for trophy hunters

The animals are reportedly particularly popular with super-rich Germans and Americans

THIS is the Namibian taxidermy factory - where over 6,000 animals are stuffed every year for trophy hunters.

These intriguing images were taken inside the workshop of Louw Mel, just outside the capital Windhoek - where business is apparently booming.

The animals are reportedly particularly popular with super-rich Germans and Americans - who pay up almost £60,000 to have their creature of choice shot, stuffed and shipped.

Louw's 45 professional staff skin the animals, before tanning the skin and dividing up the meat - which is all regarded as a delicacy, except for snake meat.

Then, the animal is stuffed with a foam mold, the skin is hand-sewn, and glass eyes are attached.

Taxidermy is legal in Namibia, and one anonymous hunting guide said: 'If you have enough money, you can usually shoot what you want."

The factory also makes other animal skin products, such as this rug made from a lion skin
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The factory also makes other animal skin products, such as this rug made from a lion skinCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Elephants are the most expensive wild animal to stuff, costing a colossal £31,000 to stuff at the Namibian taxidermy company
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Elephants are the most expensive wild animal to stuff, costing a colossal £31,000 to stuff at the Namibian taxidermy companyCredit: Exclusivepix Media
In the workshop, after an animal has been stuffed, imperfections are painted over
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In the workshop, after an animal has been stuffed, imperfections are painted overCredit: Exclusivepix Media
A worker can be seen putting the last finishing touches to a stuffed mammal
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A worker can be seen putting the last finishing touches to a stuffed mammalCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Taxidermy is completely legal in Namibia, and insiders say that if you have enough money, you can hunt any creature you want
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Taxidermy is completely legal in Namibia, and insiders say that if you have enough money, you can hunt any creature you wantCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Hundreds of stuffed animals wait to be shipped in Louw Mel's ghoulish taxidermy factory
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Hundreds of stuffed animals wait to be shipped in Louw Mel's ghoulish taxidermy factoryCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The Namibian authorities do outline a quota on how many animals can be killed, but the reality is thought to be much less strict
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The Namibian authorities do outline a quota on how many animals can be killed, but the reality is thought to be much less strictCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Business at the factory is said to be going extremely well, as taxidermy has become extremely popular with wealthy white westerners
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Business at the factory is said to be going extremely well, as taxidermy has become extremely popular with wealthy white westernersCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The first part of the process involves removing the animal's skin outside, before tanning it
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The first part of the process involves removing the animal's skin outside, before tanning itCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Each species has its own mold in three sizes - small medium and large - to cater for all animals hunted in the wild
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Each species has its own mold in three sizes - small medium and large - to cater for all animals hunted in the wildCredit: Exclusivepix Media
After the skin has been removed, the meat is divided up among locals, who treat all meat except snake meat as a delicacy
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After the skin has been removed, the meat is divided up among locals, who treat all meat except snake meat as a delicacyCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The molds are filled with a thick liquid foam, which is used to stuff the animals
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The molds are filled with a thick liquid foam, which is used to stuff the animalsCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The molds are removed after the foam completely hardens into the required animal shape
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The molds are removed after the foam completely hardens into the required animal shapeCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Here, workers can be seen filing the foam until the animal skin fits exactly around it to produce as realistic an effect as possible
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Here, workers can be seen filing the foam until the animal skin fits exactly around it to produce as realistic an effect as possibleCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The animal's skin is then hand-sewn around the foam, before glass eyes are added
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The animal's skin is then hand-sewn around the foam, before glass eyes are addedCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Every week, dozens of wealthy tourists dressed in khaki safari outfits visit private reserves
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Every week, dozens of wealthy tourists dressed in khaki safari outfits visit private reservesCredit: Exclusivepix Media
At the workshop, prices for the 35 most popular animals are listed - including elephants, big cats, rhinos and giraffes
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At the workshop, prices for the 35 most popular animals are listed - including elephants, big cats, rhinos and giraffesCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Creating the stuffed animals requires precise measurements to ensure the skin fits exactly around the mold
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Creating the stuffed animals requires precise measurements to ensure the skin fits exactly around the moldCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The factory is home to scores of molds to meed the great demand from trophy hunter customers
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The factory is home to scores of molds to meed the great demand from trophy hunter customersCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The shocking image shows a leopard at the factory after its skin has been removed
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The shocking image shows a leopard at the factory after its skin has been removedCredit: Exclusivepix Media
An average private property is as large as 5,000 hectares, where many wild animals live - meaning there is lots of opportunity for hunters
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An average private property is as large as 5,000 hectares, where many wild animals live - meaning there is lots of opportunity for huntersCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Just shipping the animals abroad costs thousands - but for many of the factory's customers, money is no object
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Just shipping the animals abroad costs thousands - but for many of the factory's customers, money is no objectCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Price to actually hunt the creatures vary - with farmers charging over £6,000 to shoot a rhino, for example
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Price to actually hunt the creatures vary - with farmers charging over £6,000 to shoot a rhino, for exampleCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Meanwhile, alligators are a cheaper option, and are priced by the metre
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Meanwhile, alligators are a cheaper option, and are priced by the metreCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Here, a leopard is expertly fitted around a precise foam mold by one of the factory's taxidermists
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Here, a leopard is expertly fitted around a precise foam mold by one of the factory's taxidermistsCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The molds are marked before the skin is attached - another step in ensuring the creatures look as perfect as possible
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The molds are marked before the skin is attached - another step in ensuring the creatures look as perfect as possibleCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Creating the animal figures is a long process, which ends with the skin being hand-sewn back onto the animal, as this worker demonstrates
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Creating the animal figures is a long process, which ends with the skin being hand-sewn back onto the animal, as this worker demonstratesCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The factory employs 45 professional workers to skin, stuff and sew the animals
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The factory employs 45 professional workers to skin, stuff and sew the animalsCredit: Exclusivepix Media
As well as rugs and figures, the animals can be transformed into other decorative items such as these wall hangings
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As well as rugs and figures, the animals can be transformed into other decorative items such as these wall hangingsCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The workshop also features attractive displays to show off its unique work
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The workshop also features attractive displays to show off its unique workCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The private nature reserves where the animals are hunted are owned by white farmers specifically for big game hunting
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The private nature reserves where the animals are hunted are owned by white farmers specifically for big game huntingCredit: Exclusivepix Media
A worker carefully places the skin of an elephant over a giant mold of its trunk, complete with tusks
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A worker carefully places the skin of an elephant over a giant mold of its trunk, complete with tusksCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Here, a fully completed leopard can be seen waiting to be shipped to its new owner
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Here, a fully completed leopard can be seen waiting to be shipped to its new ownerCredit: Exclusivepix Media
One of the final steps is attaching the glass eyes. Each species has its own type of eye
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One of the final steps is attaching the glass eyes. Each species has its own type of eyeCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Louw purchases the glass eyes from specialised suppliers in Europe
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Louw purchases the glass eyes from specialised suppliers in EuropeCredit: Exclusivepix Media
A customer is seen at the factory, where a variety of completed stuffed animals are displayed
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A customer is seen at the factory, where a variety of completed stuffed animals are displayedCredit: Exclusivepix Media

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