Donkey Sanctuary on Skiathos Fights to Protect Greece’s Forgotten Helpers-By John Koutroumpis August 1, 2025

On the northern side of Skiathos—an island in the Aegean Sea—near the secluded beach of Megalos Aselinos, a quiet but determined effort is underway to protect one of Greece’s most iconic but often overlooked animals—the donkey. Donkey Club Skiathos, run by Panagiotis Kalogiannis, is a nonprofit sanctuary that rescues and cares for donkeys that have been abandoned, neglected, or left behind by aging owners. A drastic decline in the donkey population of Skiathos Donkeys were once indispensable in rural Greek life. Yet in the modern era, their numbers have drastically fallen. “Their population has dropped dramatically—from half a million in 1960 to just around 14,000–14,500 in 2015,” Panagiotis Kalogiannis said in speaking to Greek Reporter. “The numbers are frightening.” A mission of care and rehabilitation on Skiathos Recognizing this decline, Kalogiannis launched the sanctuary, Donkey Club Skiathos, in 2012 to provide these animals with a safe and dignified life. Most of the donkeys in the sanctuary’s care come from elderly individuals who are no longer able to support them. Some have even arrived from mainland towns such as Kalabaka under similar circumstances. “We’re here to protect the donkeys,” he explains. “This is a sanctuary—our goal is to care for these wonderful creatures and make sure they are never forgotten.” Community support as a lifeline for the donkey population Operating with limited resources, the sanctuary relies heavily on donations from locals and visitors. Every contribution goes toward feeding them, their medical care, and maintaining the grounds. A small selection of items is also sold to support daily operations.

“The main way we survive is through donations,” says Kalogiannis. “We also sell a few items to help keep this project alive. Without help from locals and tourists, we wouldn’t be able to continue.” Passports and protection for every animal Each donkey is vaccinated, microchipped, and issued an official animal passport. These practices are not only about health and safety but they also reflect the sanctuary’s commitment to structured, long-term animal welfare. “We want to register every animal with a passport and chip,” Kalogiannis says. “It’s the only way to create real protection.” A project revived: Saving the donkeys of Skiathos Though Donkey Club Skiathos started off with strong momentum, it experienced a temporary lull in activity between 2017 and the early 2020s. The reasons were circumstantial, but Kalogiannis remained committed. Today, the sanctuary is active yet again—and with renewed focus. “This started in 2012, but for a few years it faded,” he says. “Now we’re fully back and committed to the cause.” Giving back to Greece’s heritage animals The decline of the donkey population in Greece is a sobering reality. However, on Skiathos, there is still hope. The work of Donkey Club Skiathos serves as a model of grassroots animal welfare—founded not on profit but on respect, compassion, and responsibility. “These animals have served people for generations,” Kalogiannis concludes. “Now it’s our turn to give back to them.”