More than 500 steps must be overcome before tourists can enjoy the view from the top of Fira, the capital of the Greek island of Santorini.
To ensure that visitors do not have to do this ‘heavy’ work themselves, donkeys are tasked to walk up and down the hill every day, acting as living escalators. The traditional ride is a popular attraction and has been for some time, but it takes a huge toll on the animals themselves.
Now, animal rights activists have released gruesome behind-the-scenes images – and the tourist industry is shaken to its core.
In the heat, donkeys are forced to trek tourists up one hill after another. Often, the paths are steep and the stairs are dangerous, but the animals get little respite. To make matters worse, animal rights groups claim that tourists are, on average, heavier – more overweight people are using the donkeys, increasing their workload.
It’s a work without a break, without a moment of rest, seven days a week. Are they given enough water and good treatment for their service? No. The British newspaper The Sun claims that the owners of the attraction in Santorini breed donkeys with horses, making the mules stronger, bigger, and better equipped to endure longer.
Documenting the Trial
A picture says a thousand words, especially when it comes to the devastating effects of animal abuse. Photos from Network for Animals have been released, documenting the bloody wounds hidden from tourists when they book their tickets for the donkey rides.
Most donkeys are even denied the proper, custom-made saddles, exacerbating the inflicted injuries. Many of them are so exhausted at the end of the day that they can’t even stand up.
The Sun quotes a spokesperson from the animal welfare organization ‘Help the Santorini Donkeys’ as saying, “It’s recommended that animals not carry more than 20 percent of their own body weight. The overweight and obese tourists, combined with the lack of shade and water, as well as the enormous heat and 568 cobbled steps, creates a huge problem.”
What Can Tourists Do to Help?
The blame when it comes to the suffering of these animals cannot be solely placed on the owners of the donkeys. Without a market for it; without people willing to ride up the hill, the attraction would quickly decline. Tourists can play their part in the fight against these painful rides by forgoing the attractions and raising awareness of animal abuse. Thankfully, due to the hard work of animal rights activists, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the owners of such programs to hide the dark sides of their business.
All tourists can play their part in ensuring that “attractions” like these become a thing of the past. Make no mistake, one day we will look back on these practices with shame and disgust. Do your part in eradicating the cruel donkey rides – SHARE this article to help the donkeys of Santorini!
