Having a curious look is alright but it's the "beg bounty" attitude that these researchers need to rein in. It's like the sponge-and-bucket guy washing your grimy windscreen without you asking while you wait at the lights, then demanding cash for it. Thanks but no thanks.
Agreed, and all the "shame if next time someone would sell it on the black market" comments don't exactly make those "researchers" look like the good guys.