Stuffed lions, giraffes among items at Nebraska auction

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) – A safari-themed auction drew a lot of attention to the eastern Nebraska city of Columbus March 9.

Dozens of stuffed exotic animals – from giraffes and lions to a mounted hyena and baboon – from late Columbus businessman Chuck Sand’s collection were among the items auctioned at Platte County Agricultural Park.

Grubaugh Auction Service told the Columbus Telegram (http://bit.ly/1inIMIK) that the collection includes about 125 items, including hides and skulls.

Sand, who died in 2012 at the age of 69, built his Platte County home with 14-foot ceilings specifically to display his trophies from a lifetime of hunting trips to Africa, Europe, Mexico, Canada and across the U.S. Many of the taxidermy animals – including a full-size elephant head – were displayed in the house.