On 24 June 2009, a theft occurred from the museum involving the removal of 299 brightly coloured stuffed birds, mostly male trogons and quetzals from Central and South America, as well as birds of paradise from the island of New Guinea, some of which had been collected by Alfred Russel Wallace. The police announced on 12 November 2010 that a 22-year-old US citizen, Edwin Rist, had been arrested, in the Tring area, in connection with the theft and the majority of bird skins had been recovered.
On June 24, 2009, a theft occurred at the museum involving the removal of 299 brightly colored stuffed birds, mostly male trogons and quetzals from Central and South America, as well as birds of paradise from New Guinea, some of which had been collected by Alfred Russel Wallace. The police announced on November 12, 2010 that a 22-year-old US citizen, Edwin Rist, was arrested in connection with the theft and most of the bird skins were recovered.