![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photos.opusgroup.us%2Falbums%2Fcyprus-2017--the-other-side%2Fcontent%2Fc%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photos.opusgroup.us%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F000%2F518%2FCyprus-2017-56%2Flarge.1495761218.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photos.opusgroup.us%2Falbums%2Fcyprus-2017--the-other-side%2Fcontent%2Fc%2F" title="Cyprus Donkey"%3ECyprus Donkey%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EBefore+the+advent+of+mechanization+of+agriculture%2C+the+donkey+was+a+key+farm+animal+on+Cyprus%2C+used+for+transportation+and+as+a+beast+of+burden.+In+1974%2C+when+the+Greek+Cypriot+farmers+in+the+Karpas+peninsula+%28extreme+north+east%29+fled+to+the+south+after+the+Turkish+invasion%2C+many+farm+donkeys+were+left+behind+to+fend+for+themselves.+In+the+years+since+1974%2C+a+large+herd+of+feral+donkeys+has+developed+on+the+peninsula%2C+a+part+of+which+has+been+set+aside+as+a+sanctuary+for+donkeys.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Cyprus Donkey
Before the advent of mechanization of agriculture, the donkey was a key farm animal on Cyprus, used for transportation and as a beast of burden. In 1974, when the Greek Cypriot farmers in the Karpas peninsula (extreme north east) fled to the south after the Turkish invasion, many farm donkeys were left behind to fend for themselves. In the years since 1974, a large herd of feral donkeys has developed on the peninsula, a part of which has been set aside as a sanctuary for donkeys.