Four people have been arrested by the “police” in north Cyprus in connection with the killing of wild donkeys in the Karpasia region.
Investigations revealed that two of those arrested, a 54-year-old and a 27-year-old, were allegedly in possession of cartridges similar to those used to hit the animals.
Additionally, a 39-year-old and a 41-year-old were arrested, with the latter “unable” to present his loaded gun to the “police.”
The Karpasia region, located in the northeastern part of Cyprus, is known for its population of wild donkeys, which are considered a symbol of the area.
These animals have been a subject of conservation efforts due to their declining numbers and the threats they face from human activities.
BACKGROUND
News of the crime broke last week when the Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute reported that at least 14 wild donkeys, including a pregnant female, were discovered shot dead on the Karpasia Peninsula on the northern tip of Cyprus.
The animals were found during routine fieldwork by members of the Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute, and preliminary investigations indicate that they were shot at close range.
Reaction online was swift, with many people in Cyprus expressing horror at the slaughter.
The Taşkent Doğa Parkı said the discovery was especially distressing because among the deaths was a pregnant female who was killed while in labor.
The donkey’s, which are protected by local wildlife legislation, are seen as emblematic of Cyprus.
The Karpasia donkeys roam freely in the Karpasia Peninsula.
They are descendants of domesticated donkeys that were left to roam wild after the Turkish invasion in 1974.