If you’ve ever been abroad, you know that there’s no shortage of attractions designed to give tourists like you an experience — for a price. One such attraction in Greece has drawn fire for what appears to be some serious animal abuse.
Santorini is a major tourist destination.
This picturesque Greek island attracts thousands of tourists every year to its pristine Mediterranean beaches. But in this case, it’s what’s happening inland that’s drawn fire — and it’s all on video.
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Donkeys have long been used as beasts of burden.
They’re slower than horses, but can accommodate more weight, which has made them a popular work animal.
Still, this doesn’t mean that it’s safe to overwork and overburden them.
That’s exactly what People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is alleging.
Their video shows shocking conditions.
It’s all summed up in this PETA article. According to the animal rights group, donkeys and mules on Santorini are being exploited by locals to serve as “taxis” for tourists.
It isn’t right.
PETA says that what they’ve captured on video constitutes a breach of Greek animal welfare laws. Here we can see a row of donkeys and mules, tied up in the hot sun with no access to drinking water.
Animals need to cool down, too.
The hot Mediterranean sun can take its toll on animals as well as people. Access to fresh drinking water is important.
These animals don’t seem to have that.
It would appear that these animals aren’t being provided enough drinking water. They also don’t have protection from the sun and will seek out any sliver of shade to beat the heat.
They’re not given time off.
PETA says these animals work seven days a week and are forced to carry tourists up and down a set of steps four or five times a day.
How much is safe?
According to PETA, veterinarian recommendations state that donkeys shouldn’t carry anyone weighing more than about 110 pounds. But this limit doesn’t appear to be enforced on Santorini.
They’re not just hauling people.
As if to add insult to injury at the end of a long, backbreaking day, these animals are used to haul big bags of garbage around once the tourist portion of their day is done.
It’s hurting these animals.
This close-up shows that ill-fitting or tight equipment chafes away at the skin of these poor animals, leaving painful-looking wounds. It’s hard to believe they’re getting any medical attention for these wounds, either.
The Greek government has taken notice.
After PETA revealed the cruelty, Greece announced that they’d place limits on how much the donkeys can carry.
But PETA says it’s a half measure.
They say that these donkeys are being forced to climb 500 steps each way, multiple times per day, even though there is a cable car available for tourists to use instead.
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h/t: PETA
