Turkey imposes heavy fines on illegal salep orchid harvesters in Kocaeli and Tunceli
In Kocaeli Province, environmental inspectors seized about 40 kg of protected salep orchid tubers during a joint operation with law‑enforcement agencies. The individuals responsible were fined 699,245 Turkish lira under regulations that prohibit the collection of endangered plant species.
In Tunceli Province, three people caught gathering salep orchids were ordered to pay a combined fine of roughly 2 million Turkish lira for violating the same protection laws. Authorities emphasized that the salep orchid (Orchis helophila) is listed as endangered due to over‑harvesting, and that illegal collection threatens biodiversity and the species' survival.
Both cases illustrate Turkey’s heightened enforcement against wildlife trafficking and the application of substantial administrative penalties aimed at deterring future poaching of protected flora.