R&R Auction House acquires rare animals

A stuffed wolverine is just one of the nearly 80 exotic and rare animals that are on display at the R & R Auction Depot in Greencastle. The animals are part of a recently acquired collection of Terre Haute neurosurgeon Manuel Cacdac, who travelled and hunted around the world for decades. Community members are invited to visit R & R Auction to see animals from the Alps to the plains of Africa before they go up for auction Sunday, Aug. 17.

Usually the only place to see animals from the Alps of Europe, the plains of Africa or the mountains of the American west is on television or at the zoo, but now thanks to a collection that has been acquired by R & R Auction Depot, these animals can be viewed up close until Aug. 17 when the collection will go up for auction.

"It is kind of like a little zoo," owner of the auction house Max Hochstetler said.

Currently at the auction house are a variety of mounted animals from around the world including a Wolverine, Kodiak Bear, African Oryx, Kudu, Lynx, Black Bear, Boar, an unknown primate and a smattering of elk, deer, mountain goats and many more.

A Lynx is just one of the nearly 80 exotic and rare animals that are on display at the R & R Auction Depot in Greencastle. (photo by KYLE HOLLINGER)

Hochstetler noticed that as he was loading in the taxidermied animals, kids were getting their photos taken with the pieces and realized that his acquisition might provide a unique opportunity for children and adults alike to get up close and personal with a diverse range of animals.

"I don't know that I've ever seen a wolverine before," Hochstetler said reflecting on the unique assortment of the animals.

The collection, nearly 90 animals strong, comes from the living estate of Dr. Manuel Cacdac, of Terre Haute, who has donated his expertise and love of hunting in various ways to help improve poor communities around the world.

A primate on display at the R & R Auction Depot in Greencastle as part of a larger collection of exotic creatures currently on display at R&R Auction House.

Dr. Cacdac served as a member of the Philippine Surgeons of America, was named Sagamore of the Wabash in 2004 and has incorporated trips to The Philippines to perform free surgeries to those in need once or twice each year since 2006.

It is there that he has earned the nickname "Shuntman," taking the name of the surgery he performs that would otherwise be too expensive for those he helps to pay for on their own.

In addition to performing surgeries to the needy, he also traveled the world hunting exotic animals, donating the meat from successful hunts to local tribes and villages in need.

A Dall Sheep greets visitors to R&R Auction House. The sheep is part of a larger collection on display through Sunday, when the nearly 80 animals will go up for Auction. (photo by KYLE HOLLINGER)

The collection will remain on display at R&R Auction Depot Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon - 5 p.m., until the scheduled auction of the animals Sunday, Aug. 17. Persons may email Hochstetler at maxhochstetler@yahoo.com, or call 653-0338 with any questions regarding the collection.