Cyprus

Cyprus, independent country and third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus lies in the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean, about 65 km (40 mi) south of Turkey and 110 km (65 mi) west of Syria. Nicosia is the capital and largest city.

Steep, narrow mountains line the island’s northern coast, and an extensive mountain system rises in the south. At the center center of the island, between the mountains, lies the fertile Mesaoria plain, the site of Nicosia. Wide bays and small inlets indent the rocky coastline, which is broken in places by long, sandy beaches. Summers in Cyprus is hot and dry, and rain is scarce on the island, except during the winter months. Cyprus is vulnerable to drought, and most crops require irrigation.

 

Cyprus Population

1,226,573	Current population
626,471	Current male population (51.1%)
600,102	Current female population (48.9%)

 

Animal population

Terrestrial animals, Cyprus, 2018

Species	Admin unit	Population	Units	Number of establishments	Units
Adult beef cattle	The Whole Country	91	Animals	20	Establishments
Adult dairy cattle	The Whole Country	35909	Animals	325	Establishments
Adult goats	The Whole Country	165851	Animals	2005	Establishments
Adult pigs	The Whole Country	29165	Animals	53	Establishments
Adult sheep	The Whole Country	214754	Animals	1824	Establishments
Backyard pigs	The Whole Country	1555	Animals	199	Establishments
Bees	The Whole Country	51219	Animals	676	Establishments
Broilers	The Whole Country	10261056	Animals	78	Establishments
Buffaloes	The Whole Country	0	Animals	0	Establishments
Calves	The Whole Country	19727	Animals	306	Establishments
Camelidae	The Whole Country	103	Animals	5	Establishments
Cattle	The Whole Country	5	Animals		Establishments
Cervidae	The Whole Country	167	Animals	7	Establishments
Dogs	The Whole Country	96978	Animals	72466	Establishments
Domestic horses	The Whole Country	1222	Animals	170	Establishments
Donkeys/ Mules/ Hinnies	The Whole Country	431	Animals	385	Establishments
Equidae	The Whole Country	4271	Animals	885	Establishments
Fattening pigs	The Whole Country	314780	Animals	50	Establishments
Goats	The Whole Country	93085	Animals	987	Establishments
Kids	The Whole Country	36658	Animals	1340	Establishments
Lambs	The Whole Country	42937	Animals	1318	Establishments
Layers	The Whole Country	551911	Animals	37	Establishments
Male and female cattle	The Whole Country	13400	Animals	311	Establishments
Other commercial poultry	The Whole Country	160666	Animals	16	Establishments
Piglets	The Whole Country	62652	Animals	48	Establishments
Sheep	The Whole Country	124197	Animals	796	Establishments
Sheep/goats	The Whole Country	242918	Animals	1065	Establishments
Turkeys	The Whole Country	31950	Animals	7	Establishments

 

Aquatic animals, Cyprus, 2018

Species	Admin unit	Population	Units	Number of establishments	Units
Amphibians	The Whole Country	0.00	Animals	0	Establishments
Crustaceans	The Whole Country	28.00	Tones	1	Establishments
Fish	The Whole Country	7390.00	Tones	15	Establishments
Molluscs	The Whole Country	0.00	Tones	0	Establishments
Wild crustaceans	The Whole Country	3.00	Tones		Establishments
Wild fish	The Whole Country	1432.00	Tones		Establishments
Wild molluscs	The Whole Country	35.00	Tones		Establishments

 

Agriculture & Livestock
Some 11 percent of the land area of Cyprus is under cultivation. Most of the holdings are small, and the vast majority of them are in the Turkish Cypriot sector.

The principal crops are potatoes, grapes, citrus fruits, cereals such as barley and wheat, carobs, and olives. The output of cereals and olives is insufficient to meet domestic demands, and Cyprus must import much of its food. Livestock breeding, mainly of sheep and goats, is important. Hogs, cattle (including draft oxen), donkeys (see ass), mules, and horses also are raised. Dairy products are mainly cheese and yogurt made from sheep and goat milk.

Livestock products, including poultry and milk, made up a significant part of the gross output by the value of the agricultural sector. In 1989 there were 49,000 cattle, 325,000 sheep, 208,000 goats, 281,000 pigs, and 2,475,000 chickens in the government-controlled area. During the 1980s, livestock production roughly doubled, as a result of subsidies, strict import regulations, and government-sponsored research that improved both the quality of livestock and its management. Although Greek Cypriots had become self-sufficient in pork and poultry, it was necessary to import beef, veal, and mutton to meet domestic needs. Specialists believed that the gradual lifting of import restrictions, as required by the EEC Customs Union Agreement, would put many inefficient breeders of livestock out of business.

Plants and Animals
The mouflon, a wild sheep, is native to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Cyprus. The horns of the male can grow nearly into a full circle, distinguishing them from the female.

Forests of pine, cypress, and cedar cover about one-seventh of the total area of Cyprus, principally in the mountains. Other indigenous trees include juniper, plane, oak, olive, and carob. The eucalyptus, a tree that can thrive in warm, dry climates, has been planted extensively as a reforestation measure.

Cyprus has few large wild animals; the most notable of these, the mouflon, a wild sheep, is no longer common. Cyprus is home to foxes and fruit-eating bats. Birdlife is varied because the island is visited by migratory flocks. Among the prominent native birds are the griffon vulture and several varieties of partridge, especially francolin. Other game birds include snipe, quail, woodcock, and plover. Sea turtles live in coastal waters.

Resources
The chief natural resource of Cyprus is its arable land. The mountain soils tend to be peaty on higher flatlands but are shallow and stony on the slopes. Farming provides income for much of the population in the Turkish Cypriot north, although it is far less important in the Greek Cypriot south. The chief mineral resource is copper. Other minerals of significance include asbestos, pyrite, gypsum, and chromite. Mining has declined considerably in importance.

 

CYPRUS Delegate

Dr. Christodoulos Pipis
Acting Director
Veterinary Services
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
1417 Athalassa
Nicosia
CYPRUS