Santorini donkeys definitely will welcome the news by incorporating happy “hee-haw”: overweight tourists are no longer permitted to ride them, it is the consequence of long campaign by activists to lighten the animals’ load. On Wednesday, the Greek Secretary of state for Rural Development and Food passed the new law, which states that donkeys cannot “be filled with excessive weight for their size, age, or shape. The burden cannot exceed the excess weight of 100 kilograms, or one fifth with their bodyweight.” Therefore should you weigh over 220 pounds, you’ll be hoofing straight down Santorini’s cliffs all on your own.
Paying to ride donkeys up the city’s slopes is a common tourist draw, but sightseers have convey a dangerous burden about the animals. In recent years, Santorini has gotten several complaints in regards to the living conditions within the donkeys, such as a petition that received over 100,000 signatures, demanding a finish into the donkey rides.
This rule change is a follower of a booming meeting in July between animal welfare societies additionally, the Municipality of Santorini. Lawmakers agreed that steps needed to be delivered to improve hard-working donkeys’ standard of living, and weight restrictions are simply just first. The brand new law also states that, “on no account ought to be used animals unfit for work, i.e. ill animals, injured, animals in a advanced pregnancy, and even animals with poor repair off hooves.” Furthermore, it makes it necessary that donkeys are regularly furnished with clean food and waters.
