Watching Wild Donkeys

North Cyprus Wild Donkeys

If you come across a wild donkey walking lazily across the Karpas Peninsula National Park, don’t be worried for it as they have been here for many years, having been descended from the domestic Cyprus donkeys. Although the population of these beautiful animals who live in the quietest and most deserted part of Karpas used to be in the thousands, they have now sadly decreased to around 500 donkeys. As these donkeys are used to living by themselves and are not used to people, it is not recommended that you approach them.
Donkeys on North Cyprus

Back in the days where cars were not around and was seen as a luxury item for the rich, donkeys held a significant importance to the local people of Karpas. The donkeys were used to ferry the heavy load of freshly picked olives and cereals over to the mills. Every family in this area had at least a donkey or two to make their lives a bit easier.  Donkeys were very handy when it came to transportation during the Second world war but with tractors and other automobiles becoming more easily available to the Tukish Cypriot people, this eventually came to a stop.
Donkeys on the Karpas Peninsula

During the panic and rush of the war in 1974, most donkeys were left to look after themselves after their owners fled for safety. These donkeys were later collected and left in the quiet area of Karpas. Although it was thought of being the best place were the donkeys would have the highest rate of survival, the farmers of Karpas were not too happy with this situation as they would escape from their fences and eat the surrounding crops painstakingly cared for by the farmers. As a solution the government offered to sell these boisterous donkeys to the farmers of turkey but it was never allowed to go through as twelve environmental groups rejected this action. The Karpas area is a beautifully peaceful town that is at one with nature and this is clearly obvious by the groups of donkeys, herds of sheep, foxes, rabbits and birdlife which flock to this area, making it a hotspot for tourists who love the feel of nature surround them.
History of the Karpas Donkey

It is thought that all the donkeys found on the island are the children the African wild ass. These creatures can be recognised from their grey coat and black mane. 4000 B.C is the date when it is believed that donkeys were first domesticated. Donkeys were hugely important in human life as a means of transportation; they can carry more weight than a horse. Donkeys have also been associated with religion as well as their usefulness. For example, the ancient Greek people created an association between donkeys and their wine god, Dionysius. Donkeys in those days were seen as a luxurious item that only the rich could afford.

Donkeys are famous for their stubbornness, and do as they wish as it is near impossible to scare them into doing what they do not want to do. They are not naturally nervous and scared animals, so it is for this reason that they are often placed in fields alongside horses to calm down their jittery nerves and maybe even make a new friend!