Rat hunter Dogs. Ratters. During the First World War, terriers were especially appreciated - ideal rat hunters (ratters), which infested the trenches. A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of the terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, game, and fearless. An ideal mix of skills for a ratter dog. Nowadays, it is believed that cats are the most suitable animal for fighting rats. Dogs, in turn, are able to challenge this misconception. There are a sufficient number of breeds in the world that were bred specifically for hunting rats (ratters). A ratter is any dog used to capture and kill rats and other similar parasites. In many countries, there are specialized breeds of rat catchers. A typical ratter is small or medium-sized, with short and smooth hair, but dogs of a wide variety of breeds can be used. The use of rat-catcher dogs is widely considered the most environmentally friendly, humane and effective method of killing rodents. A typical ratter dog is small or medidogs are considered more effective than domestic cats. Among the many breeds used for hunting rats, there are lot of Terriers, various Pinscher and Schnauzer, as well as the Spanish Ratonero breeds. Rat catchers (ratters) also use cross-breed dogs to catch rats, including bloodhounds and pointers. Airedale Terrier * Bedlington Terrier * Border Terrier * Brazilian Terrier * Cairn Terrier * Chilean Fox Terrier * Irish Terrier * Jack Russell Terrier * Jadgterrier * Lakeland Terrier * Manchester Terrier * Miniature Fox Terrier * Mountain Feist * Norfolk Terrier * Norwich Terrier * Parsons Russell Terrier * Patterdale Terrier * Plummer Terrier * Pražský Krysařík * Rat Terrier * Teddy Roosevelt Terrier * Tenterfield Terrier * West Highland White Terrier * Yorkshire Terrier – all these dog breeds are excellent rat catchers or ratters (rat hunters). Photo: A proud ratter dog poses with part of its prey on the French front line in May 1916.

Female fishermen take out nets from the Mekong River. Vietnam, 1974.

Crocodile hunting. Egypt, 1870s. Photographer: Henri Bechard Henri Bashar opened a studio in Cairo and sold tourists photographs with views of ancient Egyptian structures. From the 1st millennium BC to the 4th century AD (Roman period), the ancient Egyptians mummified millions of animals, most of the mummies were classified by Egyptologists as ‘votive sacrifices’ to gods and goddesses. Before the construction of the Aswan Dam, Nile crocodiles were found throughout the Nile. Moreover, in ancient times crocodiles were found in Israel, Lebanon and Syria. The ancient Egyptians hunted crocodiles for their mummies, scientists have come to this conclusion. The crocodile, from which the ancient Egyptians made one of the mummies, was not grown in special conditions at the temple. Scientists from France and the United States came to this conclusion after studying the remains using an elementary particle accelerator, the Journal of Archaeological Sciences writes. Experts examined the crocodile mummy from the Lyon Museum, for a long time it was located in the Kom Ombo temple in southern Egypt. The animal was embalmed at a time when Egypt was ruled by the Roman Empire. The artifact was studied at the European Synchrotron Radiation Center in Grenoble. During the work of the international research program MAHES (Momies Animales et Humaines EgyptienneS), we analyzed the crocodile mummy using synchrotron multiscale microtomography. The findings show that the animal was killed while living in the wild and then quickly mummified. This allows us to suggest hunting as a way to obtain a crocodile for mummification. This practice, which has never been documented by Egyptology, is the first concrete evidence of the use of hunting to obtain animals for mummification.

Falconry with peregrine falcon. UAE, 1949. Photographer: Wilfred Thesiger

Hunting in the tundra. Kamchatka, 1981. Photographer: Viktor Zagumennov

Salvador Dali and the rhinoceros. 1956 Photo by Philip Halsman Dalí was interested in the rhinoceros; he considered the horn a perfect logarithmic spiral; the perfect form present in nature.In the painting, Dalí noticed a series of ‘cones’. that he identified as horns. As he says in his dairy “The Lacemakers is morphologically the horn of a rhinoceros” (Diary of a Genius). Finally he’d found the connection between the girl in Vermeer’s painting and the rhinoceros. Rhinocéros en désintégration is a remarkable watercolour painted by Salvador Dalí in 1950 that invokes several of the key themes in the artist’s work of the immediate post-war era. Centring on the image of a rhinoceros suspended in space and in the process of disintegrating under the mystical spell of a divine, heavenly being, the work is an invocation of the new personal form of mysticism that Dalí was to outline one year later in his ‘Mystical Manifesto’ of 1951. It had been around the time that Dalí painted Rhinocéros en désintégration in 1950 that Dalí had first been given a rhino horn by the poet Emmanuel Looten. Following this it was, in the early part of the decade at least, to become an obsessive icon in his work. In much Eastern mythology the rhino horn is widely believed to be a source of sexual potency. For Dalí too, the rhinoceros was an image of strength and virility that ultimately manifested itself in the phallic projection of its horn. Its complimentary symbol, however, was the Virgin whom Dalí regarded as being both the target and the receptacle of the rhino’s virility. Embroiled also in these concerns, was Dalí’s obsession throughout the early 1950s with the rhinoceros. For Dalí the rhinoceros was a ‘cosmic’ animal that belonged in the heavens - even more than the elephants of his famous painting The Temptation of Saint Anthony. The rhino’s hide, Dalí asserted, had ‘plenty of divine granulations’, and its horns, he had been delighted to discover, were ‘the only ones in the animal kingdom constructed in accordance with a perfect logarithmic spiral’ One of his paintings, "A Paranoico-critical Study of the Lace Girl" Vermeer", is an interpretation of the famous painting by the Dutch artist. Dali painted part of the canvas in the Paris zoo, in the enclosure for rhinos. A copy of Lace Girl was hung nearby and a live rhinoceros was walking. Dali believed that the "Lace Maker" had incredible spiritual power. The artist saw in the outlines of the girl the favorite shape of rhinoceros horns, and the chastity of the heroine only reinforced this image. In one of his lectures, Salvador Dali said that if there had been a battle between a Lace-maker and a rhinoceros in the zoo that day, the Lace-maker would have won, since she herself is a huge rhinoceros horn, whereas a rhinoceros The photo of Salvador Dali standing face to face with a rhinoceros was taken in 1952. Dali, in a coat and a hat resembling a rhinoceros horn, as if imitating his favorite animal.

Scientist of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition Harold Hamilton poses with the skeleton of a sea lion, 1913.

The pearl hunter. Saudi Arabia, 1935. The incredible radiance of Arabian pearls is due to the unique environment in which the shellfish live. The water in the Arabian Gulf is salty and sweet at the same time, that is why the mother–of–pearl, the inner layer of the shells, is much brighter and more saturated in local pearls than in Europe. The extraction of pearls in the waters of the Persian Gulf began about 7,000 years ago, as evidenced by the triangular stone anchors found on its bottom with holes in the middle – they were used on boats of fishermen and divers, and the first written mentions of outlandish pearls from the East can be found in the works of ancient authors of the III-IV centuries BC. Later, stories about pearls appeared on the pages of the Koran, and there its value was emphasized, which is justified – even then it was valued all over the world as the best precious stones. Pearls from the Arabian Gulf began to come the European market in large numbers after 1643, when Dutch merchants arrived in Bahrain. Curiously, for a long time, Arab treasures continued to reach Europe not directly, but through Baghdad, from where pearl buyers came to Arab countries. Pearl markets appeared in Gulf countries in the 18th century, and it was the period when the demand for valuable goods increased significantly. People who lived there went to mine pearls. From 3,000 to 4,000 boats went out to the sea during the season, and by the beginning of the 20th century, 75,000 residents of the Gulf coast worked as divers. It almost a quarter of the entire local population. Divers worked in shifts. In mid-May, they set off on a dhow boat on an expedition that ended in early or mid-September. The fishermen lived on boats all the time, eat rice and fish only, had just a basket for clams, a knife and a nose clip as the equipment. For the average pearl diver, an expedition was considered incredibly successful, when at the end he received enough money to acquire ownership of a plot and finally settle on solid ground. However, few people lived to see this, because divers often became prey to predatory fish, and constant exposure to salt water and sudden pressure drops from endless dives provoked blindness and deafness. In the 1950s, prices for Persian Gulf pearls jumped again, and in the early 20th century, demand began to actively exceed supply. And some, especially stubborn fishermen, went out to sea in winter, because the sale of pearls extracted after the official end of the season was not taxed. But then the unexpected happened. In faraway Japan suddenly learned how to grow pearls in an artificial environment, and the prices of the precious commodity plummeted. Then World War II began, and people finally had no time for pearls, after oil deposits were discovered in the Arabian Gulf countries, and everyone reasonably thought: why risk your life to look for treasures at the bottom of the sea, if they literally lie under your feet?

Beluga 500 kg. The Sea of Azov. 1956. The Azov beluga is a subspecies that is on the verge of extinction. It is included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Azov beluga is the fastest growing and early maturing intraspecific form of beluga. It reaches a length of 4.6 m and a weight of 750 kg. It has 2 forms: winter and spring. Females mature at 16-17 years old, males at 12-14 years old. Distribution: the Azov Sea basin. It is found in the sea and rivers where it comes to spawn (the Don River, much less the Kuban River). Fishing: in the past, the most valuable commercial fish. In the 20th century, the maximum catches were reached in the late 30s and reached 1000-1200 tons. Protection measures: since 1986, azov beluga fishing in the Azov has been prohibited, only catching producers for artificial breeding is allowed.

Soviet football player and goalkeeper Lev Yashin on a fishing trip. USSR, 1960. Lev Yashin remains the only goalkeeper awarded Ballon d'Or (the Golden Ball).

A hunter in the steppes of the Kazakh SSR. The 1950s.

U.S. Chief Inspector of Hunting George A. with a confiscated 10.9-inch and 250-pound rifle that was used to hunt ducks. 1920. A punt gun is a type of extremely large shotgun used in the 19th and early 20th centuries for shooting large numbers of waterfowl for commercial harvesting operations and private sport. A single shot could kill over 50 waterfowl resting on the water’s surface. The Tale of George A. and the Giant Rifle In 1920, Chief Inspector of Hunting George A. Thompson lived in Millbrook, Illinois. Known for his strict enforcement of wildlife laws, George was dedicated to protecting migratory birds. One day, he received a tip about illegal duck hunting. Upon reaching the marsh, George heard an unusually loud gunshot. He discovered a monstrous rifle—10.9 inches in diameter and weighing 250 pounds—being used to hunt ducks. It was not unusual for such a band of hunters to acquire as many as 500 birds in a single day. In the United States, this practice depleted stocks of wild waterfowl and by the 1860s most states had banned the practice. The Lacey Act of 1900 banned the transport of wild games across state lines, and the practice of market hunting was outlawed by a series of federal laws in 1918. Shocked, George confronted the hunters, confiscated the illegal weapon, and arrested them. The giant rifle became a local sensation, drawing crowds curious to see it. George used this opportunity to educate people on the dangers of such weapons and the importance of conservation. In the weeks that followed, the number of illegal hunting incidents in the area dropped significantly. Hunters began to think twice before breaking the law, knowing that George A. Thompson was watching closely. The Giant Duck Gun became a symbol of the dangers of unchecked greed and the need for responsible stewardship of the land. As for George, he continued his work as Chief Inspector of Hunting, ever vigilant and determined to uphold the laws that protected America’s natural resources. Though he never encountered another weapon quite as absurd as the 10.9-inch, 250-pound rifle, he remained ready for whatever challenges might come his way. And so, the legend of George A. and the Giant Duck Gun lived on, a cautionary tale told by hunters and conservationists alike—a reminder that even in a world filled with innovation and ingenuity, some things were simply too much for nature to bear. His actions had a lasting impact, reducing illegal hunting incidents significantly. George continued his work, becoming a symbol of responsible wildlife protection.

A hunter with his hunting fox. Canada, 1942.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha, 1971.

American Arctic explorer Robert E. Peary in polar expedition gear aboard his ship SS Roosevelt, 1908. In the frigid expanse of the Arctic Ocean, where ice stretched endlessly and the sun barely peeked above the horizon, stood one of America’s most daring explorers, Robert Edwin Peary. It was the year 1908, a time when the world's eyes were fixed on the North Pole, an elusive goal that had captivated the imagination of adventurers for centuries. Peary, aboard his sturdy ship, the SS Roosevelt, prepared for what would be his final and most ambitious expedition to reach the top of the world. The SS Roosevelt, named after the then-President Theodore Roosevelt who had supported Peary’s endeavors, was a specially designed vessel built to withstand the crushing grip of pack ice. Its reinforced hull, thick timbers, and powerful engine made it one of the few ships capable of navigating the treacherous waters of the Arctic. But even with such a formidable vessel, the journey ahead was fraught with danger—icebergs, blizzards, and the ever-present threat of frostbite and starvation. Peary himself was a man of iron will and unyielding determination. Standing on the deck of the SS Roosevelt, bundled in layers of polar expedition gear, he cut an imposing figure. His face, weathered by years of exposure to the harsh elements, bore the marks of countlessexpeditions. His eyes, sharp and focused, scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of open water or shifting ice floes. He wore a heavy fur parka, its hood lined with wolf fur, which protected him from the biting cold. Thick mittens, crafted from seal skin, kept his hands warm, while his feet were encased in sealskin boots, insulated against the freezing temperatures. Peary’s polar expedition gear was not merely about comfort; it was essential for survival. Every item he wore had been carefully chosen and tested over years of experience in the Arctic. His goggles, tinted to protect against snow blindness, rested snugly on his brow, ready to be slipped into place at a moment’s notice. Beneath his parka, he wore multiple layers of woolen clothing, each layer trapping precious body heat. Around his waist, a belt held various tools and instruments—compass, sextant, and a chronometer, all vital for navigation in a land where landmarks were scarce and the sky often obscured by clouds. As the SS Roosevelt pushed through the icy waters, Peary’s mind was consumed with thoughts of the journey ahead. This was not his first attempt to reach the North Pole; previous expeditions had come agonizingly close, only to be thwarted by the unforgiving Arctic conditions. But this time, Peary felt different. This time, he believed he had the right combination of men, equipment, and luck to finally achieve his lifelong dream.

A Navajo Indian in a bear suit, 1914. Navajo Indians donned a bear suit during a ceremonial ritual, embodying the spirit of the revered animal. For the Navajo, the bear symbolizes strength, healing, and protection. By wearing the bear suit—crafted from fur, claws, and adorned with sacred symbols—the individual sought to channel the bear's powerful essence. This act was more than mere costume; it was a profound connection to their cultural heritage and spiritual beliefs. Through this ritual, the Navajo honored the natural world and invoked the bear’s strength for guidance and safeguarding their community. In an era marked by change, this tradition reinforced their identity and reverence for ancient customs. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Navajo Indians faced significant challenges and transformations. Living primarily in the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States, they were navigating the complexities of preserving their rich cultural heritage while adapting to increasing external pressures. The U.S. government's policies had a profound impact on Navajo life. The forced relocation known as the Long Walk in the late 19th century still cast a shadow, but by 1900, many Navajo had returned to their ancestral lands. They focused on rebuilding their communities, relying on traditional practices such as sheep herding, weaving, and farming. Navajo rugs and silverwork became renowned for their craftsmanship, providing both cultural expression and economic opportunity. Despite these efforts, the early 1900s brought new challenges. The federal government imposed restrictions on their land use and resources, leading to conflicts over grazing rights and water access. Additionally, attempts to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream society through boarding schools threatened their language, religion, and customs. Yet, the Navajo remained resilient. They continued to practice their ceremonies, maintain their clan systems, and pass down oral traditions. Spiritual leaders played crucial roles, guiding their people through rituals that connected them to their ancestors and the natural world. By embracing both their heritage and necessary adaptations, the Navajo laid the foundation for preserving their identity in the face of an ever-changing world. Their enduring spirit and adaptability ensured that their culture would survive and thrive into the future.

Gun hunting. Moose, hunted on September 17, 1900 by Major General A.A. Brusilov. Major General Aleksei Alekseevich Brusilov was a distinguished Russian military leader whose career spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1853, Brusilov rose through the ranks of the Imperial Russian Army, distinguishing himself as a tactical innovator and a compassionate commander. His most notable achievement came during World War I with the Brusilov Offensive in 1916, a meticulously planned campaign that achieved significant territorial gains against the Central Powers. Brusilov's approach to warfare emphasized mobility and surprise, breaking from the traditional trench warfare tactics that had led to stalemates on many fronts. His offensive demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated artillery barrages and rapid infantry advances, inflicting heavy losses on Austro-Hungarian forces and providing a much-needed morale boost for the Russian army. Beyond his battlefield successes, Brusilov was known for his humane treatment of soldiers and his efforts to improve conditions within the army. He advocated for better training, discipline, and welfare for troops, earning respect from both his subordinates and superiors. Major General Aleksei Alekseevich Brusilov, renowned for his military prowess and innovative tactics, also harbored a deep passion for hunting. Away from the battlefield, this seasoned warrior found solace and exhilaration in the wilderness, where he pursued game with the same strategic acumen that defined his military campaigns. Brusilov's love for hunting was not merely a pastime but an extension of his disciplined and methodical nature. He approached each hunt with meticulous planning, studying the terrain, tracking animal movements, and considering weather conditions. His keen observational skills, honed through years of military service, allowed him to anticipate the behavior of his quarry, making him an exceptionally skilled hunter. In the serene landscapes of Russia, whether in the dense forests or open steppes, Brusilov would immerse himself in the natural world.

Sir Winston Churchill pheasant shooting at Warter Priory in 1910.

The sound of gunshot will have been echoing across the moorlands on the "Glorious Twelfth" – the start of the annual grouse shooting season on August 12 and lasting through to December 10. Managing the "Glorious Twelfth" originated in 1773 when a shooting law was introduced to restrict when one could and could not hunt or even buy game. The biggest growth in grouse hunting came about during WWII and through the 1950s. With food supplies cut off because of attacks on shipping, the UK's food imports dropped from pre-war fifty-five million tons to barely twelve million tons by the end of 1939, barely enough to feed the nation. Even today in the 21st century, shot birds often end up in restaurants, butchers' shelves, and supermarkets. So, what impact and benefits does grouse shooting have on today's economy and where do the royals fit in? For the protection of the land, shooting provides essential income for the Moorlands Association. It is responsible for over 1,500 jobs in the heart of the countryside and even in a successful season, shooting usually stops well before the official end date of 10 December with every day contributing to a boost in the economy. Businesses associated with grouse shooting benefit by over $38 million a year. Included are game dealers, accommodation, equipment suppliers, catering and transport operators in remote rural locations who depend on grouse shooting as the main source of income outside of the tourist season. Grouse moors in England, for example, supports two thousand jobs - to those directly involved with grouse moor management and others in related services and industries. While in Scotland there are more than 2,500 full time jobs allied with shooting contributing over $37 million to the Scottish economy. ‌While hunting in the UK is not against the law it is sometimes considered a necessity.

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU USSR Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev on a hunt in the hunting farm "Zalesye" (Brovarsky district, Kiev region) with a carbine MC 10-09. Hunting was a favorite pastime of the rulers of all nations, because among those who took great power, there are no vegetarians. Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, was not averse to hunting either. According to official data, he owned 13 units of rifled and smoothbore weapons. Although one of his contemporaries mentioned almost a hundred guns stored in the collection of the leader. He had more than one and a half hundred hunting rifles, and the reason for that was not even his passion, but the reaction of his colleagues and subordinates to this hobby. He received 2-3 guns for each of his birthdays. Only at Brezhnev's neighboring dacha in Zavidovo there were three huge safes, which contained more than 90 smoothbore hunting rifles. But MC 10-09 was one of his favorite. The Tula factory also made gifts to the head of state. The fitting MC-10-09 had a 9x optical sight PIC 9x39. This weapon was decorated with engraving and gilding. The MC-10-09 had horizontally positioned barrels for a 9x53 hunting cartridge. The butt and forearm are made of walnut wood. The length of the barrels was 600 mm, the weight of the rifle without an optical sight was 3.8 kg. All guns of the MC10 series, made according to a single scheme, were supplied in smooth calibers 10, 12, 16 and 20, as well as in rifled 9x53R. Depending on the type of ammunition used, the designation of the model combines the name of the series with their caliber: MC10-10, MC10-12, MC10-16, MC10-20 and MC10-09. The length of the chambers of all smoothbore models is 70 mm. All guns of the MC10 series are one-piece, exclusive weapons of the highest class. This line has never been in mass production, being made exclusively to order. Their owners were representatives of the top leadership of the countries of the socialist camp, the party nomenclature, and the generals. Among high-ranking hunters, the MC10 rifles were appreciated for their low weight, exceptional balancing and excellent fit, combined with a high working resource and sharp, close combat.