Dikmen Yaylası’s Rare Şakayık Flowers Face Up to 700k Lira Fine

The rare Şakayık (poppy) that blooms on Dikmen Yaylası in the Hendek district of Sakarya, Turkey, opened in June 2024 after unusually cool weather delayed its usual spring flowering. The plant, known locally as the “yayla çiçeği,” blooms for only about ten days each year and is classified as an endangered species, placing it under strict protection.

Anyone caught picking or damaging the flowers faces heavy administrative penalties: individuals are fined 699,245 Turkish lira, while institutions can be fined up to 3,496,767 lira. Local expert Onur Kazın explained, “Koparılması yasak, yaklaşık 700 bin lira gibi bir cezası var,” emphasizing the prohibition and the steep fine.

Authorities monitor the area closely to preserve the species, and the striking visual display of the blooming Şakayık has attracted nature enthusiasts despite the strict enforcement measures.