ABOUT CYPRUS Place to see... The One First Called... Karpaz Donkeys...
			North Cyprus wild donkeys are not so much wild as liberated, being descended from Cypriot domestic donkeys left to roam over the Karpas Peninsula National Park. Now a protected animal, the Karpas donkey numbers have dwindled from thousands to around 500 animals today, who live on the remotest parts of the peninsula. These grey, brown or black donkeys are very bad tempered and intolerant, so it is advisable not to get too close, and to warn children to look but not touch. The donkeys played a very important role in agriculture on the Karpas peninsula, to carry olives from the groves and cereals for the fields to the mills. Every household had at least one, if not two donkeys, which were sure-footed and able to carry more than a horse.The stray					donkeys were rounded up and taken to the Karpas peninsula, seemingly an ideal location for them to thrive and survive. However, despite farmers installing fences to keep the donkeys away from their crops, the nimble-footed beasts simply jumped the fences and ate them anyway. The government of the time suggested selling off the Cypriot donkeys to Turkish farmers on the mainland, but no less than twelve environmental groups objected. Today, the donkeys retain the right to roam the peninsula, and are a great tourist attraction despite their tetchy tempers. The donkeys share the peninsula with herds of sheep and goats, and the occasional fox heading for the beaches and a possible meal of turtle eggs.
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