The upward striving tulip (Tulipa anadroma Botschanz.), a unique plant found exclusively in Kyrgyzstan, has reached the finals of an international competition dedicated to the selection of endangered species of flora and fauna. This event is organized by the zoo in Indianapolis, USA.
The initiative to participate in the competition was taken by the Wild Tulip Specialist Group under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Species Survival Commission Wild Tulip Specialist Group).
The voting will take place in several stages. The first round is scheduled from March 16 to 19. The species that receive the most votes will continue to compete in the second round, which will take place from March 20 to 23, 2026.
The third and fourth rounds will be held from March 24 to 26 and from March 27 to 29, respectively. The finalists of the fourth round will compete in the superfinal from March 30 to April 3, 2026.
If the tulip rises to victory, the organizers of the competition will provide financial assistance for conservation projects for this species. Currently, the upward striving tulip is endangered due to factors such as flower picking by locals and tourists, livestock grazing, and the digging up and selling of bulbs.
The full list of participants and the opportunity to vote are available at the link:
Additional information about the activities of the Wild Tulip Specialist Group can be found on the website:
You can also check out the materials on the project's Instagram page:
Experts hope for active support from the public. In their opinion, participation and possible victory in the competition will help draw the attention of the international community to the issue of protecting the unique wild tulips of Kyrgyzstan.
