Beasts of the Sea

Chapter III

III

Hic locus est ubi mors gaudet succurrere vitae

This is a place where death rejoices in serving life

Inscription on the door of the anatomy hall, University of Helsinki

In recent years, fascination for the natural world has grown, particularly among the younger generations.

[…] Many enthusiasts in this field have developed a strong desire to keep and preserve the objects they find in nature […

] How many wanderers, upon snaring a beautiful bird or a small, smooth-coated mammal, wished they had the skills to immortalise this beautiful piece of nature for posterity?

Aarne Hellemaa, Taxidermy as Hobby and Art, 1950