Reflections on the passing of Professor Kaiyrkul Shalpykov (1964 – 2025)

It was with great sadness that the Wild Tulip Specialist Group (WTSG) received the news that our dear colleague and friend Professor Kaiyrkul Shalpykov passed away in late January 2025. Kaiyrkul was a key figure in Kyrgyz tulip research and conservation, and an expert in Central Asian flora. He was well respected in the region not only for his intellect, but also for his kindness and generosity and as a long-time senior figure at the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic provided multiple decades of service to Kyrgyz research. As part of his role he was integral to all the expeditions conducted by Cambridge University Botanic Garden in Kyrgyzstan. With his passing we are not only losing a vast amount of valuable knowledge, but an inspiring teacher and compassionate colleague.

Death is a universal experience, yet it feels deeply personal when it affects those we hold dear. The loss of a colleague and friend often prompts us to reflect on shared memories and grieve for the moments which will no longer be possible. Personally, I have many fond memories of our shared times, but will forever hold particularly fond memories of expeditions to find wild tulips in Kyrgyzstan – a country which Kaiyrkul made feel like a second home for me. These memories always centre around beautiful moments of cross-cultural friendship and adventure – moments spent admiring plants in the shadow of vast mountain ranges, toasting around the dinner table to friends and family, and sitting under the dark expanse of the Kyrgyz night sky with all its shimmering beauty. It is these small moments that have defined my relationship with this esteemed researcher and these are the moments I am especially grateful to have had, but will also be the ones I will miss most on my next trip to Kyrgyzstan.

It’s easy to focus on the loss itself—the empty space left behind, the absence of his voice and personality. Yet, reflecting on Kaiyrkul’s life, it is clear that his impact doesn’t end with his passing. Kaiyrkul was integral to some of the first research to show climate change as an enormous threat to wild tulips, he helped discover a new tulip species in the Toktogul region of Kyrgyzstan, and with his support we have conducted the broadest assessment of the genus to date. Crucially, he was also a key reason for the founding of this specialist group. His legacy will certainly live on through his contributions to our understanding of wild tulips and the WTSG will endeavour to continue his enthusiasm for this plant through our work.

In the midst of grief, it can be hard to feel positive. Yet, we should take this time to celebrate a life well-lived, acknowledging the ways in which Kaiyrkul enriched the world around him, and find gratitude for the time spent together. It can also remind us of the preciousness of our own lives, prompting us to embrace each day, cherish relationships, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the fleeting moments that shape us all. The tulips will once again flower this Spring in the mountains of Central Asia, and with them lives on the memory of a man who fell in love with this flower and worked throughout his life to ensure it remained a part of Central Asian landscapes for generations to come. You will be greatly missed Kaiyrkul and we hope that the work this group conducts will continue to make you proud.

шутка (shutka) – Joke

Kaiyrkul often told jokes and this was one of the most common words on our expeditions.