OVERWEIGHT tourists in Greece could be fined £25,000 if they are caught riding donkeys under new laws.
The fines are part of a crackdown on animal abuse in the country.
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Concerns for the welfare of the donkeys were raised last year, when animal rights charities revealed that heavy tourists were being carried up the animals up steep and narrow stairways on the island.
Many of the animals had open wounds and injuries from working long hours in the heat with little shade or water.
A video revealed some of them being whipped and hit by their owners as they carried people across the island.
The Greek government introduced legislation last year that made it illegal for the donkeys to carry anything or anyone weighing more than 15 stone 10 lbs, or “one fifth of their body weight”.
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They are now cracking down on the practise further following an open letter from Athens-born musician Tommy Lee, who asked them to “resolve” the “sicking abuse” of the donkeys.
Greek minister of Agriculture Makis Voridis since replied, stating: ” In the event of violations of existing legislation by the audit authorities, the offenders will be subject to severe penalties. It is noted that the envisaged fine may be up to €30,000 (£25,000).”
However, this will be hard to enforce against tourists travelling to the country’s islands.
A spokesman for Help the Santorini Donkeys charity also claims that animals should carry “no more than 20 per cent of their own body weight”.
They added: “The obese and overweight tourists, combined with the lack of shade and water as well as the sheer heat and 568 cobbled steps, is what is causing such a problem.
“There should be a weight restriction. With donkeys it is should be no more than eight stone, but how would that be imposed and who would be there to make sure that happened?
Christina Kaloudi, 42, moved to the island from Athens 10 years ago and set up the Santorini Animal Welfare Association to help overworked donkeys.
She said: “They are made to work in terrible conditions without adequate water, shelter or rest and then I find them tied outside my shelter, barely alive.”
TripAdvisor announced they would stop selling tickets to attractions such as SeaWorld earlier this year after extending their animal welfare policy.
British Airways also announced a similar ban on selling tours and holidays to animals in cramped enclosures.
We previously revealed how your photo with an elephant or tiger is unethical with many of the animals facing torture or death.
