Ayvalık sand‑lily protection cages turned into trash bins

In the Badavut Kayalıkları area of Ayvalık Islands Nature Park and Ida Madra Geopark, cages erected to protect the endemic sand‑lily (kum zambağı) were deliberately filled with litter and waste by unidentified persons. Visitors also left PET bottles, packaging and other debris inside the enclosures, prompting public outrage.

Mayor Mesut Ergin urged tourists to respect the fragile habitat, saying, “Doğanın bize armağan ettiği bu eşsiz endemik bitki… hep birlikte sahip çıkalım.” Authorities reminded that picking the protected flower carries an administrative fine of roughly 700,000 Turkish lira and called for greater environmental responsibility.

Environmental groups highlighted that the incident reflects a broader lack of civic awareness toward Turkey’s natural heritage.