Sarpten: "Government Negligence Killed the Donkeys!"

"It was government indifference that killed the donkeys!" Sarpten stated, calling on Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoğlu and the government to apologize and resign if they have any conscience.

Sarpten emphasized that the donkey issue is not new, highlighting years of efforts by environmental organizations to present solutions to authorities. However, he argued that the government’s continued neglect has worsened the situation.

"The Government Refused to Allocate Even a Single Cent"

Sarpten compared the issue to the pine processionary moth crisis, blaming the state’s failure to invest in environmental protection for the escalating problems. He revealed that under the "Donkey Management Project," initiated by the Environmental Protection Department, each donkey could have been rehabilitated with a budget of €200 per animal, requiring €200,000 for an estimated population of 1,000 donkeys.

"This project could have turned the Karpaz donkeys into a valued asset rather than a problem. While the government finds funds for everything else, it refused to allocate even a single cent for this," Sarpten said.

Despite securing approval from EU officials and initiating funding attempts through ARMA (Turkey-TRNC Infrastructure and Real Sector Cooperation Mechanism), government indifference led to the project’s failure. "This government simply does not care—not just about the donkeys, but about people as well," Sarpten stated, holding Minister Ataoğlu and the government directly responsible.

"Politicians Must Also Be Held Accountable"

Sarpten stressed that the police investigation into the brutal killing, including a pregnant donkey, must result in severe punishment for those responsible. However, he insisted this would not be enough.

"It’s not just those who pulled the trigger that are to blame," he said. "The real responsibility lies with Fikri Ataoğlu and the government. If they have even a shred of conscience, they should apologize to the public and resign."