Greece has banned overweight passengers from riding the donkeys after a story highlighting the cruel conditions of the donkeys of Santorini they are forced to live in went viral.

According to Metro, the country has banned obese tourists from riding the donkeys, following the movement by campaigners to put an end to the rides.

In July, a story highlighting the cruel conditions of the donkeys of Santorini went viral that stated that animals are made to climb more than 500 steps so that tourists can enjoy a view from the top of Fira, Santorini’s capital.

The horrific injuries sustained by donkeys that are forced to carry overweight passengers up the narrow steps of Santorini are heartbreaking.

Animal rights activists released a set of ‘behind the scenes’ images that show the cruel condition these donkeys are forced to live in and the horrific injuries they get from carrying the overweight passengers.

As per reports, the country’s Ministry for Rural Development and Food has made a new law to protect donkeys:

“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 be used animals unfit for work i.e., ill animal, 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 kg, or one fifth of their body weight.”

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