Toulouse: Buldo, the star rhinoceros of African Safari, will make its debut at the Museum
He was one of the figures of the Plaisance-du-Touch zoo, in the suburbs of Toulouse (Haute-Garonne). The white rhinoceros Buldo was very popular with visitors to African Safari, especially as part of the “caregiver for a day” activity, where you could scratch this colossus of 3 tons. He died at the end of November at the age of 36, and his body was quickly taken care of by the teams of the Museum of Toulouse.
If most of the museum’s collections concern local wildlife, the partnership with African Safari makes it possible to present species benefiting from a conservation program. Brian Aïello, a taxidermist for twenty years at the Museum, has already stuffed a giraffe. But this rhinoceros, a first for him, presented other difficulties, in particular because of the weight of the animal.
“For two days, I worked on the skin, with brining to preserve it. We are in a time of thinning of this skin, very rich in collagen, he explains. Then, we will probably get closer to the tanneries of Graulhet, in the Tarn. »
If Buldo’s naturalization is not yet assured at this stage, the specialist has not found anything prohibitive and hopes that this white rhinoceros, well known to Toulouse residents, will one day be visible at the Museum. “It will depend on the programming of our exhibitions. Or maybe he will integrate the permanent exhibition, which is being redesigned. Either way, it will take time.
In the meantime, Brian Aïello is working on Caramelles, the bear shot in 2021, and on another former resident of African Safari, Charly, the Atlas lion.