Apparently the air carrier did not even tell the shipping agent the truth. The shipment did not arrive on the 17th.
That is when it was scheduled to arrive.
What's a few days here or there.
CFIA jumped to the job at hand and did inspect the crate.
Here is the proof.
Wonder why you can't track a shipment?
Not the entire AWB, just the last numbers that were changed on the crate and some parts of the paperwork.
Nothing I was provided until arrival. :wacko:
Who changed this I'll never know.
Spring gift opening.
Crate Condom - It protects you the trophies while you are being screwed by the government.
Just like the picture from the taxidermist.
My new Windchime. First to be hung up..
[Not really] Just a really cool way to ensure that the horns are mated properly. Each pair had a string like a kids mittens. Awesome idea.
One trophy took a bit of a beating. The Steenbok Euro mounts front end palette broke off inside the packaging.
Unbelievably fine bones. Who knows why it broke. Crazy Glue will get it back together.
Each skull was wrapped in a plastic mesh wrap to hold it together. (except the Steenbok)
They were then wrapped in paper shreds and then plastic wrapped and taped.
All the trophies had the identification tag number taped on each individual item.
Warthog tusks had a scribe of the number on the bases. No confusion possible.
The smaller tusks (lowers) were all plugged with silicone. Absolutely stopped them from breaking or flaking off.
The crate was well packed. There was no damage to the outside.
Shredded paper on the bottom of the box a few inches thick.
Then the clear plastic Crate condom was placed inside.
The Giraffe rug wrapped in bubble wrap.
The rest of the trophies packed in on top.
The Crate Condom is zipped closed and then more shredded paper on top.
You could have shipped raw trophies straight from the field and they would have been fine. Stinky, but no leakage was possible.
In midstream Reiser Taxidermy did the research and determined what would work. They did the packing and it worked.
It passed CFIA.
Worst thing I can say is that communication could have been a little better or timely.
Problems were solved and concerns were responded to and I got my trophies.
I do not know who did the skull cleaning. This supposed "D&P" Euro mounts are ready to go on the wall with a little rinsing.
I know that the guys at Ozondjahe are awesome and I'll bet these trophies showed up at Reiser cleaned and ready to be dipped and shipped.
Now, where to place the trophies?
[
I have no idea, beyond the fact that these trophies are nearly sterile as delivered, why I was allowed to pick them up myself under the new regime. I will not look a gift horse in the mouth.] :ssst: