In Santorini, luxury for the few is being built on the backs of exhausted donkeys.

While tourists enjoy the view of the Caldera, animals carry all the construction material because there is no other way to deliver it.

In the footage, recorded these days and which we have also published, donkeys carry heavy marble slabs up the steep cobbled streets of Santorini.

Every brick, every tile, every bag of cement arrives at the construction site exclusively on their backs.

In the summer months, the scenes are also heartbreaking - donkeys often with wounds, tired and exhausted, carry tourists up steep stairs in temperatures above 40 degrees, without a break or shelter.

These animals pay the highest price for the exclusive view.

The price of concrete in Caldera is twice as high as in the rest of Greece, because every gram of material must be “manually” transported.

The transfer tour of construction material costs up to 50 euros, so imagine how much the owners of these animals earn daily for multiple donkeys and many tours per day.

Without them, construction in this part of Santorini would not be possible.
We wonder if this is true? Has technology not reached a level of development where it cannot bear the burden of carrying tourists from the bottom to the top?

Initiatives to protect donkeys from exploitation

Initiatives for their protection have long existed, but the situation remains unchanged - profit is more important than the welfare of animals.

The Association for the Protection of Horses “IPPOTHESIS” has prepared a draft law to regulate their working conditions, but they are still awaiting a response from the authorities.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) - one of the world’s leading animal protection organizations, in collaboration with the Ipothesis organization, have submitted requests to the authorities in Greece to stop this practice. There are no results so far. On PETA’s website, you can also sign a petition to protect donkeys and mules in Santorini from abuse and exploitation.

Currently, there is no law that prescribes how heavy a load donkeys are allowed to carry.
Owners often do not know or do not care about how much animals can endure, so they overload them to their limits.

And when the construction is completed, they will continue to carry tourists who do not want to walk or use the elevator, because riding donkeys is more exciting and Instagram-worthy.

Luxury villa with a view? Yes. But at what cost?

And finally, you do not want to know how animals end up becoming too weak to carry the load.
Watch a short video about the load being loaded onto donkeys HERE.

Responsible tourism

We apologize if this topic upsets you, especially if you love animals, but we believe it is important to raise awareness about their protection. Tourist attractions that use animals for entertainment often involve their suffering and exploitation.

Therefore, we urge you not to support activities such as horseback riding through river streams, where animals are exposed to stress and exhaustion, as well as riding donkeys, camels, or elephants at popular destinations.

Also, keep in mind that zoos and aquariums, although once considered educational places, are actually places of captivity where animals spend their lives in artificial conditions, far from their natural habitat.

Tourists have the power to choose responsible and humane services. As in any industry, demand shapes supply - so the more we choose ethical tourism, the more such services will develop. And animals will finally breathe a sigh of relief from exploitation.

Animals are not here for our entertainment - they deserve freedom, respect, and a life in nature, where they belong. Choose responsible tourism that does not harm animals.

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Photos:
Maria Atraveni
Maria Atraveni
Protothema
Ippothesis
PETA