The hills of Cyprus are becoming quiet. The old job of being a shepherd is almost gone. Only a few people still do this hard work. George Kasapis, 66, used to be a full-time shepherd. Now he raises goats for fun. His story shows what is happening to this old tradition.
George left his job because it was too hard. He worked for many years. He said, "You’re tied to it." This means the job never stops. Now he raises goats for himself. He bought ten young goats for about €40 each. His goats have grown a lot. He still faces challenges, even with a sore arm. He also sleeps very little.
In the village of Mathiatis, only three shepherds are still working. One is a professional. Another has a few animals. The third one does not want to talk to anyone. George thinks joining the European Union made things worse. He said, "Since we joined the EU, it’s all gone." New rules about licenses and standards are difficult.
Modern shepherds are not well-known. Their important work is often forgotten. The job is hard. New rules make it harder. Young people do not want to be shepherds. Many old farms are now empty. George Kasapis now uses his wife's uncle's old place for his goats. This is a hobby, not a big job. The number of shepherds is falling. This old job might soon be only in history books.