Greece has banned obese tourists from riding donkeys after animal rights campaigners said the creatures were being left with spinal injuries and open wounds.

After images of donkeys climbing the narrow steps of the Greek island of Santorini laden by large holidaymakers hit the headlines worldwide, lawmakers in the country have now pledged to do more to help the animals.

The Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food has published a new set of regulations regarding donkeys’ well-being after receiving multiple complaints following media coverage in July.

These state that donkeys giving tourists rides in Santorini should not carry any loads heavier than 100 kilograms or one fifth of their weight.

The move comes after animal activists on the island claimed with obesity on the rise, donkeys were being forced to carry ever-heavier loads while working long hours, seven days a week without shelter, rest and water - leaving them with spinal injuries and open wounds from ill-fitting saddles.

The government bulletin states, “The owners of working equidae should ensure that the animals’ level of health is high. There should also be disinfection materials in their living quarters and workstations.

“Under no circumstances should animals unfit for work be used, i.e., ill animals, the injured, animals in an advanced pregnancy as well as animals with poor maintenance of hooves.

“The animals should be given appropriate and adequate food and fresh drinking water daily, into containers which cannot be contaminated and are cleaned at least once a day. Working equines should not be loaded with excessive weight for their size, age or physical condition. The load cannot exceed the weight of 100 kilograms, or one fifth of their body weight.”

Santorini is known for its hilly terrain and donkeys have traditionally been used to transport people over the famously stepped areas which vehicles cannot access, such as in capital Fira.

In June, charities there claimed the explosion of fat tourists meant locals who are keen to get the most out of their animals were being forced to crossbreed the animals to create mules, which are bigger and taller and can carry heavier loads with more stamina.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【马科动物】mǎkē dòngwù equidae the family of horses and related animals, including the extant horses, donkeys, and zebras

【耐力】nàilì stamina strength of physical constitution, power to endure disease, fatigue, privation, etc.

希腊已禁止肥胖游客骑驴，因为动物权益保护者指出，这些游客给驴子造成了脊柱损伤和开放性创伤。

驴子驮着肥胖游客攀登希腊圣托里尼岛上狭窄石阶的照片登上了世界各地的媒体头条，迫使希腊立法者承诺采取更多行动来保护这些动物。

七月份媒体曝光此事后，希腊农村发展和食品部收到大量投诉，之后该部门针对驴子们的健康发布了一系列新法规。

新法规指出，圣托里尼岛的载客驴不应该背负超过100公斤或自身体重五分之一的重量。

此前岛上的动物维权者声称，随着游客肥胖率的提高，驴的负荷也被迫加重，与此同时，驴还要长时间劳作，每周七天，没有遮蔽、没有休息和水，这会导致驴的脊柱受伤，并因鞍具不合适产生撕裂性伤口。

政府公告写道：“役用马科动物的主人应确保动物保持良好的健康水平。在它们的居所和工作站内应有消毒物品。”

“绝对不能驱使不适合劳作的动物去劳动，这些情况包括生病受伤、快要产仔以及蹄子受损。”

“每天都应给予动物充分适当的食物和新鲜饮用水，食槽应保持干净无污染，每天至少清洁一次。劳作的马科动物不能背负超出自身体型、年龄或体能所能承受的重量。负重不能超过100公斤，或其自重的五分之一。”

圣托里尼岛以丘陵地貌闻名，传统上用驴子载游客登上那些车辆无法通过的著名石阶区，比如首府费拉的一些地区。

今年六月，当地的动物慈善机构称，肥胖游客数量的暴增促使那些剥削动物的当地人用驴和马杂交出更高大的骡子，可以驮更重的东西，耐力更持久。

(Chinadaily.com.cn)