Dear colleagues,
I am afraid this question is a bit off-topic.
I am looking for assistance in getting back highly valuable Reduviidae (Hemiptera) material from New Guinea borrowed in 2012 by Manuel Baena (Departamento de Biología y Geología, I.E.S. Trassierra, Córdoba, Spain).
I have a loan form signed by Mr. Baena at 03.IX.2012 acknowledging receiving of this material (attached). This highly valuable material to be returned back as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, since 2013 Mr. Baena is ignoring all of my attempts to contact him.
If there is anybody from Spain who can assist in getting specimens of my project back, my institution will reimburse any costs connecting with this activity.
Manuel Baena has a profile on RG and is working actively on Hemiptera. So there is no clear reason for ignoring his commitment to return borrowed specimens in 2013 (already 5 years ago).
Looking forward for any assistance on this topic!
Your situation already happened many times in different groups (plants, insects, etc): researchers that never send the material back. I know cases, where the material was on loan more than 30 years and no results or identifications, was ever made. In your case, I would request a Letter from the Director of your institution directly send to the director of the other institution requesting to help with the situation. Sometimes it works.
Good luck!
Yes this is nothing uncommon. You request other staff-members of the institution where Manuel Baena is working. What is his age? Has he retired?
This is distressing. I think Dr. Francisco's suggestion would be helpful. Indeed, scholars must be ethical!
I already sent an email to his institution's office (in 2015), but got no reply at all. He is not retired as far I know.
You request his Institutional Head again to check if he has left those specimens in his table drawers or almirah which he used during his service. Every chance those specimens can be located.
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