The 21st Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) is underway, offering visitors a rare opportunity to witness and purchase well-preserved wildlife specimens, including a nine-foot Nile crocodile throne, a 10-foot Russian grizzly bear, and a seven-foot Canadian polar bear. Hosted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) until September 8, the event brings together exhibitors from around the globe to promote cultural exchange and preserve traditional heritage.
Dubai-based Artefactum Gallery made its debut at the exhibition, showcasing an array of taxidermy pieces, with its most striking exhibit being the crocodile throne crafted from a 15-foot crocodile hunted by Russian gallery owner Andrey Zaykin in 2015. Valued at $100,000 (Dh367,000), the throne exemplifies the gallery’s focus on blending human creativity with the beauty of the natural world.
Other notable items on display include a polar bear from Canada priced at Dh250,000, a fully mounted Ussuri brown bear (Russian grizzly bear) for Dh80,000, and a grizzly bear skin rug at Dh40,000. Artefactum also features rare curiosities such as a double-headed baby goat and even fragments of meteorites crafted into souvenir items.
Valeriya Khachaturova, the curator of Artefactum Gallery, emphasized that the gallery’s taxidermy work is conducted under strict regulations, complying with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The gallery specializes in preserving animals in a lifelike form, maintaining high standards of professional hunting and preservation techniques.
Khachaturova also linked the display to the historical concept of the “cabinet of curiosities,” a 17th-century practice of curating items that represent the intersection of art, science, and culture. She remarked that Artefactum’s exhibit offers visitors a unique blend of human creativity and a connection to the natural world, all within a framework of cultural respect and legal compliance.
Adihex remains a hub for enthusiasts of hunting, equestrian sports, and outdoor lifestyle, fostering a global dialogue on preserving traditions while celebrating modern artistic interpretations.
