Population of Rare Buttercups Increases in Northern Cyprus

In Northern Cyprus, the population of the rare and endangered Delphinium caseyi buttercup has seen a significant increase over the past year.

The conservation efforts for this rare species are taking place at its only known habitat in the Kyrenia Mountains, managed by the staff of Tashkent Nature Park.

“The focused conservation work at the sole habitat in the Kyrenia Mountains has yielded remarkable results. The population has grown significantly compared to the 70 plants recorded in 2023,” stated the nature reserve on social media.

This conservation project is being carried out in collaboration with BRTK and the Department of Environmental Protection, with sponsorship support from Türk Bank.

To protect the plants from grazing goats, protective fencing has been installed.

"Without regular annual monitoring, it’s unclear whether this sudden increase is a normal occurrence. Additional research is needed to understand the plant’s biology, ecological interactions, population trends, and genetic structure. We will soon share a detailed publication about our conservation efforts,” the nature park added.

Delphinium caseyi, also known as Casey's larkspur, is a flowering plant in the buttercup family. Its population is estimated to be around 100 individuals, classifying it as an endangered species.