Millions of tulips that are listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan bloomed in the Turkistan region steppes. Many Kazakh citizens, as well as foreign travellers, come there every year to enjoy a spectacular sight that happens only once a year. However, there are significantly fewer flowers this year due to the cool weather, experts say. Nevertheless, it is still possible to plunge into the atmosphere of a blooming spring. The important thing to remember is that fines for picking red list tulips have been increased up to 3,000 monthly calculation indices, equivalent to 8.8 million tenge (US$20,351). Experts are convinced that it is necessary to carry out continuous awareness-raising campaigns about the uniqueness of this type of tulips. After all, Greigii tulips even in a vase of water will only last for a little more than an hour, and a new flower will not appear in the place of a cut out one for the next 10 years.
“This is the first time we saw the wild tulip, yes. The story is in Holland that we brought the tulip from Turkey, and Turkey brought tulip from Kazakhstan,” shared a tourist Peter Vis.
“34 types of tulips are listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan, including our Greigii tulips. There is strict criminal liability for picking up these flowers. There is also a penalty of up to 3,000 MCI,” noted Ulasbek Kembayev, Director of Tulkibas Branch of Sairam-Ogem State National Natural Park.
Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova
Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova