Untitled - ente nazionale per il turismo di cipro

Birds on the spring and autumn northsouth
migration use Cyprus as a stopping
point and the two Salt Lakes (Larnaka and
Akrotiri) offer a winter home to large
flocks of greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus
ruber). Nightingales, golden orioles,
hoopoes, rollers and bee-eaters are among
the visitors and residents include several
endemic species, such as the Cyprus
warbler and the Cyprus Wheatear.
The population of the Griffon Vulture
(Gyps fulvus) has declined rapidly over
recent years and the birds no longer visit
many of their traditional nesting sites.
The Game Service has set up a small
reserve at Agios Ioannis on the Xeros
River and action is being taken to prevent
the loss of the species.
The endemic moufflon (Ovis orientalis
ophion), a type of wild sheep, considered
by many to be Cyprus’ national animal.
At one time, these beautiful shy animals
were hunted almost to extinction.
However, a captive-breeding programme
has saved the species and today around
10,000 live in and around the Pafos Forest.
They are best seen in a reserve
at the Stavros tis Psokas Forest Station,
in the Troodos range.
Cyprus is one of the few remaining nesting
grounds for the endangered Green Turtle
(Chelonia mydias) and the Loggerhead
Turtle (Caretta caretta). Turtles lay their
eggs in the sand on isolated beaches.
Gradual human encroachment into their
territory and depredation of the nests and
hatchlings by foxes and other predators has
severely jeopardised the survival of these
primeval marine creatures.
In 1978, the Cyprus Fisheries Department
established a turtle hatchery at Lara Beach,
one of the main nesting sites on the west
coast. Turtle eggs are also transported
from other beaches to hatch in safe
conditions at Lara.
Although not a wild animal in danger
of extinction, the Cyprus donkey has
always been an important feature of rural
life. It was a form of transport,
beast of burden and the means for drawing
water from the wells.
The Nubian Donkey (Equus asinus)
is believed to be the domestic donkey’s
ancestor and it is known that donkeys
were domesticated before horses.
What is not known is when the first
donkeys arrived in Cyprus but the remains
of an ass have been found in a tomb from
the seventh century BC. Villagers from the
remoter areas can still be seen riding and
working with donkeys, and there is a
Donkey Sanctuary at the village of Vouni,
northwest of Lemesos (Limassol).
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