Without a doubt, Santorini is one of the most popular places in the world to spend a vacation. Clean sandy beaches, whitewashed houses, and hilltop villages, all add to ensure you meet your heart’s desire. While on holiday to Santorini, many tourists are tempted to ride donkeys. We are against riding donkeys in Santorini and here are the reasons why.
Poor Working Conditions
When you visit Santorini, it’s common for you to see these cute little animals with saddles on them. Owners will tell you how hard it is to get to the top all by yourself, so you want to ride the donkeys. What most people don’t know is that these animals are subjected to poor working conditions. They are hardly given enough food to eat or water to drink since they are needed to attend tourists at all times. It’s a cruel and wicked thing to treat an animal like that, and that is why we’re against riding donkeys in Santorini.
No Welfare for the Animals
When animals work so hard, it is important to provide them with adequate welfare like a good place to stay after the day. Unfortunately, this is not the case for Santorini donkeys. These animals are placed in very terrible states and conditions that are just unbelievable. They don’t get enough rest, and when they are sick, they are tossed away like garbage and left to die a painful death alone.
Old Animals Are Forced To Work
Donkeys get weaker as they grow old, just like most creatures. So, it makes sense to retire them and let them live the rest of their life in peace. However, this is not the case for the tourist donkeys of Santorini. Owners force the donkeys to work even when they see that these animals are getting old and can’t do what they used to do anymore. If the animals refuse to cooperate, they are beaten until they comply. Sometimes, these beatings lead to death, and the owners don’t care at all.
No Weight Limits for Riders
It’s not part of the culture of the locals in Santorini to ride donkeys on rocky hills. But to donkey owners whose primary objective is profit, tradition is not something for them to respect. It’s so serious that owners of donkeys have no weight limit, as it is common to see overweight tourists riding a donkey on very rough grounds.
Donkeys Ride Up 600-Foot Cliffs
Santorini has some interesting villages up hills where you can go and have unlimited fun. Some tourists ride donkeys up 600-foot cliffs that are dangerous and uncomfortable; imagine how painful that can be. Many donkeys have gotten seriously injured after such voyages and the owners just toss them off the cliff to avoid spending money taking care of them. These wicked acts by donkey owners are the reasons why we are totally against riding donkeys in Santorini.