Wild Donkeys in North Cyprus

A symbol of how Cyprus has changed over recent years in terms of agriculture and transport is most certainly the donkey. A traditional way for farmers and families to take goods around the island due to their durability, hardy nature and immense strength, donkeys have been used for hundreds of years in place of horses for their brute strength but since tractors and lorries have become common replacements, the Cypriot donkeys have been unfettered from their lives of labour.

Walking around coastal areas of the Karpas peninsula it’s easy to find them rambling through scrub, hunting for a snack. They vary in colours from brown to grey and black, and although it’s easy to consider them as adorable and sweet animals, appearances are most certainly deceiving as the nature of the donkeys are anything but. Curious and largely unafraid of humans, the donkeys are bad tempered and tolerate very little in the way of interference, so if you’re travelling with children or those who don’t know better, make sure to advise them away from touching or approaching the animals. However, as they live on the far reaches of the peninsula, it’s uncommon to come across one without fair warning of a long distance sighting, and there’s no worry of stumbling across one and unknowingly irritating it.

Despite their temperament, the donkeys are still a classic symbol of ancient Cypriot life and (as long as you’re at a fair distance) are pretty delightful to watch roaming around. Although their numbers have dwindled, and they create an annoyance for farmers with their foraging natures, they are undoubtedly a heart warming sight and if you’re passing through the peninsula a spot of donkey watching is a must for animal lovers.