 Cyprus donkeys | |
| Country of origin | Cyprus |
|---|---|
| |
TheCyprus donkey is the donkey breed of the Mediterranean island ofCyprus.[1] There are two principal strains: a large dark-coloured type with a pale belly, probably of European origin; and a small grey African type which represents about 20% of the total population, which in 2002 was estimated at 2200–2700.[2]: 26
The Cypriot donkey was an integral component of rural life from prehistoric times until the 20th century.Archimandrite Kyprianos in 1788 records that feral donkeys existed in the mountainous regions ofAkamas andKarpasia.[3]
Some hundreds of Cyprus donkeys live in aferal state on theKarpass Peninsula in the Turkish-controlled northern part of Cyprus. They were abandoned there byGreek Cypriot farmers during theTurkish invasion in 1974. In 2008, a group of Greek andTurkish Cypriots organized to save the animals from extinction after ten of them were found shot dead.[4]
 | This equine-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
