Georgy coming towards a Tulipa korolkowii in full bloom in Batken, Kyrgyzstan. In October 2018, I started a PhD on tulip taxonomy and conservation at the University of Cambridge with a question that sounds simple and turns out to be anything but: what actually is a tulip species? Depending on whose classification you followed, there … Continue reading Chasing Tulips Across the World: An Eight-Year Journey from Mountains to Publication
Tag: Expedition
Experts in front of the lens
In Spring 2025, members of the IUCN SSC Wild Tulip Specialist Group visited Kyrgyzstan primarily for outreach and media purposes. The expedition included attending the Tulip Festival in Bishkek and filming wild tulips in remote areas. The team experienced the beauty of an array of diverse tulip species and the stunning landscapes of Central Asia on their journey.
500 miles
Our car made to look small by the overpowering landscape. I would walk 500 miles… Between the 26th and the 29th of April the tulip team assembled again to head into the north-east region of Kemin. Georgii, Ormon, Isken, and I were now well acquainted and formed quite the formidable team. The bitter cold had … Continue reading 500 miles
Heading deep into southern Kyrgyzstan
On Tuesday the 9th of April I set off from London Stansted on my way to begin the first fieldwork period of the tulip conservation project. After two flights and little sleep I arrived in Bishkek on Wednesday and was warmly welcomed by Dr. Jarkyn Samanchina of the Kyrgyz Fauna and Flora International branch. There … Continue reading Heading deep into southern Kyrgyzstan
IUCN SSC Wild Tulip Specialist Group 