What is the primary focus of taxidermy?

The primary focus of taxidermy is preserving animals. This practice involves the process of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of deceased animals for display or study purposes. It allows for a realistic representation of animals, which can be valuable for educational purposes in museums, research, and art. Taxidermy showcases the animal in a lifelike manner, often capturing the natural posture and features. This craft has historical significance in natural history museums, where preserved specimens help educate the public about biodiversity and wildlife.

The other options relate to different fields entirely. Cultivating plants focuses on agriculture and horticulture, cooking food pertains to culinary arts, and manufacturing textiles involves the production of fabric materials. Each of these areas does not involve the preservation of animals, which is the essence of taxidermy.