If you don't see it with your own eyes, it's really hard to believe that there is a "live" and immobile sika deer in the home of a resident of Science City, and if you look around, there are still a few "live" white chipmunks on the table at the door, a few pheasants "standing" on the top of the refrigerator, a few hedgehogs next to the TV cabinet, a small domestic pig on the coffee table, a puppy on the balcony, and a corn snake in the bookcase...... What is even more unbelievable is that there are more than 6,000 pieces of these "living" animals and plants that look lifelike, and even the hair is no different from the real thing, in this room of less than 100 square meters.
▲ The scene at Tang Anke's home. Photo by Lei Jian
In fact, these "living" animals and plants are only specimens, all of which are from Tang Anke, the former senior experimenter of the School of Life Sciences of Chongqing Normal University, who was the taxispecher of Science City. He has been engaged in taxidermy for more than 40 years, produced more than 6,000 specimens, and obtained a number of invention patents.
01
More than 6,000 treasures of "Grandpa Specimens".
When it comes to the production of Tang Anke's "entering the pit" specimens, we have to start with a few paintings above the specimens that are older than the reporter.
▲ Tang Anke collection specimens. Photo by Lei Jian
In 1978, Tang Anke entered the Department of Biology of Chongqing Normal University (now the School of Life Sciences of Chongqing Normal University) as a botanical experimenter.
"In the early 80s of the last century, the school participated in the compilation of "Flora of Sichuan", and needed to draw a bioink line map, but no one could draw it. Tang Anke recalled that although he was also a zero-based foundation, he was willing to study, so he was selected to go to Sichuan University for 3 months of training.
Bio-ink line drawing, like the ID photo on the "ID card" of the plant, is not only required for basic botanical literature such as flora, but also must have an ink line diagram as the basic drawing every time a botanist publishes a paper on a new species of plant.
After coming and going, Tang Anke, the "draftsman", officially took up his post. Until the beginning of 2000, with the efforts of everyone, many botanical and vegetable varieties were compiled, and new plant species were published less and less.
▲Tang Anke processes specimens. Photo by Lei Jian
"Because I like it, I started by going all over the country to collect specimens, and at first I changed careers to make plant specimens, and then I studied animal specimen making. The 72-year-old said that his only hobby is making specimens, and he is quite famous in the local area.
The small fragrant pigs sent by the pig farm in the village, the beetles caught by primary and secondary school students, and the crabs and turtles sent by the people from other places...... Dead animals are "frozen" here into specimens, which come to life, and all kinds of plants are made into specimens here, as bright as ever.
▲ Tang Anke collection specimens. Photo by Lei Jian
As more and more specimens were made, the fame of "Grandpa Specimens" grew. In Tang Anke's home, the balcony becomes a "laboratory", the coffee table becomes an "operating table", the cabinet and the bathroom, all kinds of potions and equipment used to make specimens are piled up, and in this house of less than 100 square meters, there are more than 6,000 specimens of various types of animals and plants.
02
The "taxidermy grandfather" who brings animals back to life has his own "careful thoughts"
One day, Old Tang received a phone call, and there was a crying middle-aged woman: "Teacher Tang, can you help me make a specimen for a little bit...... I can't live without it......" Diandian is an elderly Pomeranian who has been with his owner for 15 years. It has just passed away, and its owner, Ms. Shen, is reluctant to give up on it, and it has been with it for many years as close as a family.
▲ Tang Anke collection specimens. Photo by Lei Jian
After receiving the little point from Ms. Shen's hand, which was no longer breathing, Tang Anke first processed the little guy's body, and then it was drying, antiseptic, plasticizing, and shaping.
After the production, Ms. Shen came to Tang's house again, looking at the lifelike dots, she couldn't hide her excitement, because she and her beloved dog were reunited in another way.
Tang Anke told reporters that there are not a few people like Ms. Shen who ask him for specimens. But more often than not, he likes to make some relatively rare and rare specimens: "For hundreds of years, specimens have been the basic material for biological research, an important support for naturalists to explore the world, and a way for us to understand nature." I hope to have a fixed exhibition hall, so that more than 6,000 specimens in my family can be 'lived' in, so that more children can see and explore the mysteries of nature together. Tang Anke said that maybe he will be reluctant at that time, but more feelings are worth it.
▲ Tang Anke collection specimens. Photo by Lei Jian
In 2019, Mr. Wang, a citizen living in Chengdu, sent Tang Anke a small box containing a marta turtle. "It looks like it's smiling, and it's very unique. Such a rare turtle immediately piqued Tang Anke's interest, so he looked up information from the Internet and began to make specimens. According to incomplete statistics, there are 38 species of turtles and more than 50 species of butterflies in Tang Anke's specimens, which also provides favorable conditions for the world to understand the biological world.
03
Because of love, so insistent "folk inventor"
"The image is realistic, except that it can't move, it's no different from the 'living' one. Speaking of Tang Anke's specimen, the people around him gave a thumbs up.
▲ Tang Anke outdoors. Photo by Lei Jian
In fact, it was not all smooth sailing at the beginning. "In order to prevent plant specimens from becoming insects, a lot of mothballs were put in each cabinet at that time, and the smell was very pungent and the effect was not good. Since then, Tang Anke has been slowly exploring what kind of way to make specimens, which can not only achieve the effect of insect control, but also make the taste "less heavy".
It was in the process of this exploration that Tang Anke became completely fascinated by taxidermy. After many attempts, he explored a new way to make specimens: the previous method of soaking with formaldehyde was changed to dry specimens, which can achieve non-toxic, long-term insect and mildew prevention effects.
▲ Tang Anke showed the treasured specimens to the students. Photo by Lei Jian
"Taking reptiles - snakes as an example, many snake specimens were soaked in formaldehyde in the past, and over time, the color of the snake body will begin to turn black and change its appearance. Tang Anke told reporters that now he uses models instead of cotton and other fillers, which can preserve the muscles and bones of snakes intact, and the non-toxic agents he invented can make specimens in the humid Chongqing without mold and insects, and they still look alive after many years.
Today, with his scientific research strength, Tang Anke has won 5 national invention patents and 1 utility model patent, and has become a "folk inventor" and "innovation expert" in the eyes of others.
More than 6,000 animal and plant specimens filled the small home of "Grandpa Specimens", but he did not stop. "As long as someone watches, then continue to do it until you are old and can't do it. Speaking of this, Tang Anke's eyes were clearer and more determined.
Editor-in-chief: Deng Xiaowei丨Deputy editor-in-chief: Li Haoyang
Editor-in-Chief: Li Tongtong丨Editor-in-charge: Wang Qian
记者：成雪、雷键 | 编辑：范兴欣｜校对：周翌
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