Blatman
3rd May 2009, 16:11
I read this article about donkeys but it makes me wonder if some people are too big for their bikes??
Head hanging down, the donkey presses on in the blazing heat with its extraordinarily heavy human load.
Carrying a tourist weighing more than itself, the skinny animal sometimes falters, but is urged on by the handler - who hits its hind quarters with sticks or nails.
As this shocking picture shows, animals in many destinations visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists a year still have to endure great suffering as they are treated like 'machines' by their impoverished owners and visitors.
Now a leading animal charity has told travellers that it is time they helped put an end to such cruelty.
Two destinations of particular concern are the ancient city of Petra, in Jordan, and the Egyptian pyramids in Cairo.
In rose-stoned Petra, where this picture was taken, many are determined to climb 800 steps cut in rock to see the impressive view from the Ad-Deir Monastery.
But the trek proves too much for some, so they use the donkeys, led by locals who rely on the animals for their livelihood. Because they are desperate for money the handlers often insist no load is too big.
As a result, visitors heave themselves on to the animals which are sometimes smaller than their load.
Others double-up for a ride, or cram as many people as possible into a carriage pulled by a horse. The horses can be highly decorated - but the ornate coverings can hide sores caused by rubbing and the animal's protruding bones.
But while they spend all day working, the animals can go without food because owners cannot afford to feed them after tourists barter them down on the price of a ride.
Donkey and horse charity The Brooke, whose president is the Duchess of Cornwall, stressed such treatment happens across the world. 'They are living beings, they're not machines,' said Dorcas Pratt, head of international development at the charity.
'When people get on to a horse or donkey, they should make sure they match their size to the size of the animal.
Never mind whether it seems to be able to take your weight, it might be suffering from carrying that weight.'
Head hanging down, the donkey presses on in the blazing heat with its extraordinarily heavy human load.
Carrying a tourist weighing more than itself, the skinny animal sometimes falters, but is urged on by the handler - who hits its hind quarters with sticks or nails.
As this shocking picture shows, animals in many destinations visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists a year still have to endure great suffering as they are treated like 'machines' by their impoverished owners and visitors.
Now a leading animal charity has told travellers that it is time they helped put an end to such cruelty.
Two destinations of particular concern are the ancient city of Petra, in Jordan, and the Egyptian pyramids in Cairo.
In rose-stoned Petra, where this picture was taken, many are determined to climb 800 steps cut in rock to see the impressive view from the Ad-Deir Monastery.
But the trek proves too much for some, so they use the donkeys, led by locals who rely on the animals for their livelihood. Because they are desperate for money the handlers often insist no load is too big.
As a result, visitors heave themselves on to the animals which are sometimes smaller than their load.
Others double-up for a ride, or cram as many people as possible into a carriage pulled by a horse. The horses can be highly decorated - but the ornate coverings can hide sores caused by rubbing and the animal's protruding bones.
But while they spend all day working, the animals can go without food because owners cannot afford to feed them after tourists barter them down on the price of a ride.
Donkey and horse charity The Brooke, whose president is the Duchess of Cornwall, stressed such treatment happens across the world. 'They are living beings, they're not machines,' said Dorcas Pratt, head of international development at the charity.
'When people get on to a horse or donkey, they should make sure they match their size to the size of the animal.
Never mind whether it seems to be able to take your weight, it might be suffering from carrying that weight.'