The young taxidermist giving animals “life after death”

Specimen preparation is a technique used by taxidermists to produce a lifelike appearance from dead animals. Among other things, taxidermy is used in scientific research, such as species conservation and biological identification. Chen Yao-hua (陳耀華) has loved insects and animals since he was a boy. This year, he is studying in his fourth year at college and is the youngest taxidermist in the history of the Endemic Species Research Institute.

Along with the general public’s gradual understanding of specimen preparation, the taxidermy techniques of dissecting animal carcasses, filling, and sewing are considered by many to be appalling and disrespectful to life. Although this bloody process often causes controversy, it has significant value in the long-term preservation of species and academic research, and is, therefore, an integral part of biology. Taxidermists devote enormous time and patience to their craft and have great respect for animals, giving them “life after death.”

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標本師紀錄物種 再度賦予新生命

標本製作是一門重現死去動物生前模樣的技藝，用於物種保存及生物鑑定等科學研究方面。陳耀華從小對昆蟲與動物非常喜愛，今年就讀大學四年級的他已擔任起農委會特生中心有史以來最年輕的標本師。

隨著社會大眾對於標本製作逐漸了解，解剖動物屍體、填充、縫補等製作方法被許多人視為慘不忍睹，不尊重生命的現象。雖然血腥的處理過程時常惹來爭議，但這在長期保存生態物種及學術研究方面有重要價值，是生物學裡不可或缺的一環。標本師在付出許多時間和耐心的同時，也越來越敬重地看待生與死，希望延續各類動物的生命價值。

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