Ailing New Zealand Butterfly Collector Donates Life’s Work
A Life of Passion and Dedication
Wheelchair-bound and ravaged by multiple sclerosis, 68-year-old John McArthur vividly recalls the first time he saw a butterfly. He was 10 years old and it was a shock of yellow and black, a swallowtail butterfly flitting among the zinnia flowers in his mother’s New York garden. “I was mesmerised”, McArthur says, recounting the first step of a journey that would take him from the Amazon to the Himalayas, the Andes back to his native New Zealand.
A Kaleidoscope of Colour and Life
Over nearly 60 years, McArthur collected more than 20,000 specimens, a kaleidoscope of colour and life that he painstakingly pinned into hundreds of boxes that lined the walls of his home. He remembers the last time he caught a butterfly. It was during a 2008 visit to the achingly beautiful Cobb Valley, in New Zealand’s South Island. He happened across a boulder copper butterfly. Quickly slinging aside his crutches, he dropped to his knees to scoop up the diminutive wonder.
A Life of Passion and Regret
By that time, he had already felt a tingling sensation in his spine. Doctors diagnosed multiple sclerosis, an incurable disease of the central nervous system. “A specialist told me I would probably need a walking stick within 15 years,” McArthur remembers. “But six months after the diagnosis, I was in a wheelchair.” The disease has now robbed McArthur of the use of his hands and legs, and his speech is laboured. But his mind remains sharp, recalling specimen names and locations where he found his favourite butterflies.
A New Home for a Lifetime Collection
Faced with his own mortality, McArthur resolved to find the thousands of beloved butterfly specimens a new home, somewhere they could find a new life after his death. He ruled out donating to a New Zealand museum: “They just don’t have the facilities” he said. “You need climate control, very rigorous pest control. Accepting a large collection has quite a price tag.” Instead, he chose the Natural History Museum in London, paying to ship his collection from Wellington to London this April.
A Legacy of Protection
John McArthur’s collection is now merged into the museum’s vast collection, which contains about 13.5 million butterflies, housed in 80,000 drawers. Some of his favourites are now kept alongside specimens studied by Charles Darwin, the 19th-century naturalist who popularised the theory of evolution. “For a collector, that’s quite a big deal. It’s humbling,” McArthur added.
Conclusion
John McArthur’s story is one of passion, dedication, and regret. As he faces his own mortality, he has handed over his life’s work to the Natural History Museum in London, ensuring that his beloved butterflies will continue to thrive. His legacy is a testament to the power of human curiosity and the importance of preserving our natural world.
FAQs
* What is John McArthur’s current condition? John McArthur is wheelchair-bound and suffering from multiple sclerosis, an incurable disease of the central nervous system.
* Why did John McArthur choose to donate his collection to the Natural History Museum in London? John McArthur ruled out donating to a New Zealand museum due to the lack of facilities, and opted for the Natural History Museum in London, paying to ship his collection from Wellington to London.
* What is the significance of John McArthur’s collection? John McArthur’s collection is one of the largest private collections of butterflies in the world, containing over 20,000 specimens. It is a testament to his passion and dedication to the field of entomology.
* What is John McArthur’s current occupation? John McArthur is no longer able to work as a diplomat due to his condition, and is now focused on his care and well-being.