The Greek island of Santorini is set to introduce another set of restrictions: But this time, they will be around its famed donkeys, which are used to ferry tourists around places on the island where cars can't travel, including some 600 steps up the winding, cobblestoned Karavolades stairs in the town of Fira, reports Newsweek.
Animal rights activists and charities say that the animals are overworked—often making four to five trips up the stairs a day, and working 12-hour days in 86-degree heat—and are suffering spinal injuries and saddle sores because of heavy tourists, reports The Telegraph. The donkeys are also reportedly used to haul luggage, trash, and more around the island, reports the Evening Standard. (Donkeys should carry no more than 20 percent of their own body weight, according to the charity Help the Santorini Donkeys.)
On Saturday, officials from the municipality of Santorini pledged to make changes to the animals' working conditions, by limiting the weight donkeys and mules can carry and regulating the number of hours they can work. Officials also said they would "extend and improve special shade in order to protect the animals from the heat and to improve the water supply at their places of residence." Still, there are no details on just how the government will implement regulations going forward.
Greece is on track to see a record 32 million tourists this year, a nearly 100 percent jump from its visitor numbers in 2010 (15 million) and more than five times the amount of visitors from a decade ago, reports The Independent. Santorini, at just 29 square miles, remains one of the country's most popular destinations, and has struggled with overtourism: In an effort to cut down on the number of visitors, Santorini since 2017 has capped cruise ship visitor numbers to 8,000 per day. Good thing Greece has some 6,000 other islands and islets to discover instead.