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Cyprus

Not as cute as he looks

THE AGRICULTURE Ministry, with the help of scientists has finally unravelled the origins of a herd of tiny mystery goat-like animals spotted in increasing numbers around wooded areas in recent months.

Christened “Agrinaki” by local farmers, which means  ‘mini Moufflon’ in English, the pygmy goat-like animal is now known to be the result of an unlikely pairing between the indigenous Moufflon and the Peloponnesian mountain goat imported to Cyprus during the 18th century.

It is not known yet how or when the two species started to breed but experts believe it may be connected to the new forms of wildlife which have sprung up in isolated areas of the UN buffer zone over the past 30 years or so.

Prof Lily Adaso, a Moufflon conservationist and leader of the research team that confirmed the heritage of the Agrinaki, said yesterday: “The Agrinaki is a very special animal. It is so rare for species to interbreed successfully, especially with goats. That they survived in the wild is also remarkable.”

Despite sharing 99 per cent of their DNA with the Moufflon, and 98 per cent with the Greek goats, the Agrinaki has developed a number of unique traits. Notably, the largest specimen found was just 46cm tall, and in contrast to either of their ancestors, have full length tails. Adaso said the DNA mix may have stunted the animal’s growth, which would explain the size.

“We are trying to understand how they evolved this way. Initially I think the smallest offspring survived because of limited food, but maybe hunters over the years have mistaken them for young Moufflon and not shot them, so they survived to pass on the miniature genes,” she said.

Asked about the long tails, Adaso said “We are really baffled by that. They seem entirely pointless.”

The number of sightings in recent months indicates something of a population explosion is taking place, possibly due to the heavy rainfall, which has provided the animals with plenty of greenery to eat.

But while conservationists are delighted by the news of a new indigenous species, not everyone is happy with their new neighbours.

The Pan-Cyprian Fruit-farmers Federation claims that the Agrinaki’s raids on melon and banana farms are costing the industry thousands of euros. They estimate the population at several hundred, but this has been difficult to verify, since the animal is largely nocturnal and not as cute as they look.

Costas Panagia, PFF Spokesman said: "They come at night and break through our fences. In some places they jump straight over the fence, and sometimes they attack in groups."

“They have developed a taste for melon, and will do anything to get at them. Even my dogs are afraid of them now.”

A UN wildlife expert on the buffer zone said it would explain the recent reports of packs of wild dogs terrorising farms at night along the buffer zone in Dherynia

If the government’s plan to allocate reservoir water to farmers goes ahead, Panagia says, the abundance of melons could cause a population boom that would devastate the local farming industry and local ecology.

"We therefore want to cull the Agrinakia. They are harming local agriculture, and if we don't start now it could be a disaster for Cyprus' melon industry. They might even be good to eat." Panagia added.

There is also a theory that the mini-Moufflon may not be new and might even have been around for centuries, hidden by their much smaller numbers. The first written record of what could be the Agrinaki (Stultus Avrilis) appears in Byron’s diaries during his first Cyprus visit. He writes “I had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the small goats did wander bleating in the eternal space.”