Just Because it's Dead, Doesn't Mean it Has to be Disgusting

Taxidermy can be quite beautiful.

Qalqilya Zoo, Palenstine

But you wouldn't know it by looking at this thing.

Brace Yourselves, This One is a Doozy

I was actually looking for more taxidermal (taxidermic? these are both apparently the adjective form of 'taxidermy') lions (a perennial favorite around here), when I stumbled upon this:

via Dull Tool Dim Bulb

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

What? Why? How? Who?

This actually is taxidermy, because (again, brace yourselves), that's REAL SKIN up there.

From Dull Tool Dim Bulb:

"As much taxidermy as folk art, this terrifying lion must have certainly been part of a menagerie, as whoever made him was magnificently talented.  Wooden teeth, fake eyes, an actual animal skin around a internal frame of unknown material.  The mane is gone, long gone, and replaced with another piece of animal skin tacked on with brads.  Extraordinary!  The entire body is hand-stitched, possibly with sinew...and the lion is ten inches long."

This thing is from the nineteenth century, a time when people were genuinely weirder than they are now. Just, completely screwed up. 

Here, have another angle:

The most important thing is that you don't think about this lion as you're falling asleep tonight...

Oh, China

Dear Luohe Zoo,

You should know this kind of thing only works on Virginians:

cnn.com

It's sad that I can say this, but this isn't even the most lion-like dog we've seen on this blog:

Best part of the story? "Visitors to Luohe zoo noticed ruse when dog started barking."

Those are some eagle-eyed (eared?) patrons. The zoo never stood a chance.

Thanks for the tip, Brian and Will!

Yvain 4: Wrath of Yvain

It's really not a good sign when the lion on your shield is more realistic than the ACTUAL LION.

BONUS: Nerdy commentary from a reader:

"Listen, if you want to do movie title names for Yvain, though, it might interest you to know that the moon which the death star nearly destroys in Star Wars A New Hope is called 'Yavin 4'

JUST SAYING."

Frankly, I don't know what to do with that information except just post it here.