Fraudulent Deeds: Unraveling the Controversial Legacy of Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen

Meinertzhagen’s Enigmatic Tales

Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen was not only a soldier but also a spy and an ornithologist – a truly extraordinary figure in history. While he was initially thought to have made significant contributions to ornithology, a closer look revealed a darker side. In the 1990s, the examination of bird specimens stored as museum examples at the Natural History Museum in England marked the first step in exposing the renowned ornithologist as a skilled forger. The study accused Meinertzhagen of fraud, and subsequent findings, tested by another scientist using a different methodology, confirmed that he had stolen and manipulated specimens from the museum’s collection, altering some of their label information.

Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen’s celebrated contributions to ornithology unravel into a tale of skilled forgery and deceptive exploits, casting a shadow over his complex legacy.

Before his death, Meinertzhagen had donated a collection of 25,000 bird specimens, including those he had stolen, to the Natural History Museum. Apart from his questionable activities in ornithology, Meinertzhagen gained notoriety for his imaginary exploits as a soldier and spy during wartime. For instance, entries in his diary claimed a specific meeting with Hitler in Berlin on a certain date, describing how he regretted not shooting him despite having a weapon. However, later investigations revealed that Hitler was actually outside Berlin on that date. Such instances abound, woven into different stories that seem too real to be true.

Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen’s life story is intricate, presenting a complex web of deception. This complexity inevitably casts a shadow over his works and contributions, prompting a cautious distance. I spent some time with his signed book, ‘Birds of Arabia,’ which he presented to the museum’s library in 1955. Undoubtedly, it is a beautifully crafted book with well-presented information, drawings, biogeography of birds, and the historical and current geography of the region. Yet, considering the truths about Meinertzhagen, a certain level of skepticism is unavoidable when approaching this book.

- Birds of Arabia, with Meinertzhagen’s hand writing and his exlibris.

Behind the specimens in the collection and the books in the library lie entirely different human stories. This elevates ‘Natural History’ to another level for me. The narratives and perspectives will continue endlessly, offering new stories as I write and explore.