A local zoo has a "taxidermy department" and noteworthy animals are preserved or skinned and the skins sold to friends of the zoo.
Its kept very secret because it would be publicly unpopular. A friends dad has a mountain lion skin because he is a contractor who does a lot of work for the zoo and did a few jobs for them that NEEDED to be done basically for cost when they were suffering some financial troubles. They gave him the pelt as a Xmas present.
you don't have to be vegan to help stop animal cruelty. there are many, many humane and legit ways to help animals without veganism. not drinking milk or eating eggs doesn't matter.