Leeds tiger taxidermy

10 Jun 2026

Curators Clare Brown and Sarah Burhouse (pictured) were on site at Leeds City Museum carrying out meticulous checks for dust and the types of tiny pests which can be harmful to vintage taxidermy, before undertaking a delicate clean of some unique and historically significant exhibits. This week’s conservation included cleaning the delicate tail feathers of the museum’s incredibly rare pair of Huia, an extinct species of bird that once lived in New Zealand. A sacred bird to the island nation’s indigenous Māori people, Huia tail feathers are traditionally only used and worn by people of great status and power.

Leeds tiger taxidermy: Curators Clare Brown and Sarah Burhouse (pictured) were on site at Leeds City Museum carrying out meticulous checks for dust and the types of tiny pests which can be harmful to vintage taxidermy, before undertaking a delicate clean of some unique and historically significant exhibits.
This week’s conservation included cleaning the delicate tail feathers of the museum’s incredibly rare pair of Huia, an extinct species of bird that once lived in New Zealand.
A sacred bird to the island nation’s indigenous Māori people, Huia tail feathers are traditionally only used and worn by people of great status and power.

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