Reports from Turkish media reveal the detention of a curator from the American Museum of Natural History in Istanbul on Monday amidst claims of smuggling spider and scorpion samples. Lorenzo Prendini, an arachnids expert at the New York-based museum, was apprehended at Istanbul Airport with approximately 1,500 samples, as per news outlets.
The curator asserts he possessed permits from the government to conduct his research, yet Turkish authorities detained him for allegedly attempting to transport species indigenous to Turkey. Footage released by the Demiroren News Agency depicts officers inspecting hand luggage containing plastic bags filled with deceased spiders and scorpions.
In statements to The Associated Press, Prendini condemned the police’s actions, highlighting the dismissal of permits and reliance on biased testimony. He decried the violation of due process and suggested a prejudiced pursuit of guilt in the public eye.
At the American Museum of Natural History, Prendini serves as the curator of spider, scorpion, centipede, and millipede collections, with his research spanning over 30 countries. Despite his collaboration with Turkish scientists, this incident underscores the complexities and challenges surrounding scientific research and specimen collection across borders.
