Never Accept Animal Rides (in England or abroad)
In England, the only ‘animal rides’ these days are horse and carriages, and donkey rides on beaches. Read our posts on moving on from horse-drawn carriages and how to help donkey friends.
Abroad, many animals are offered as ‘rides’ for tourists, from elephants to camels. But often this in countries with poor welfare laws, and little education on the negative connotations for the animals.
In some areas, animals are physically restrained and beaten, and even deprived of food and water. And many animals are too thin and thirsty, to carry their human riders.
Just like horses are not built to pound on pavements, elephants naturally walk on soft ground, so walking on hard ground can lead to foot injuries and joint degeneration. Camels naturally walk on sand, and the struggle of weight and heat can lead to dehydration and exhaustion.
All these creatures also suffer from the stress of noise and crowds, and often don’t get the rest, shade, water or food they need to stay happy and healthy.
Health Risks of Animal Rides to Humans
Humans who ride animals abroad are also at risk from zoonotic diseases (like TB in elephants and rabies in camels). Exposure is increased from dirty saddles, animal sweat and waste. Some stressed animals may also bite or charge, and some fall which also injures humans.
Alternatives to Animal Rides
Just be an ecotourist! There is absolutely no merit (other than selfish exploitation) to take animal rides. Not doing so, will encourage countries to offer alternative ways for locals to earn income.
Explore the area on foot. Walking around to see the sights and sounds is far better, and you can save the money used for animal rides, to donate instead to a local animal shelter or wildlife sanctuary.
The company Responsible Travel don’t sell holidays that allow elephant rides, as again many of these gentle giants are exploited. This often happens in Asia, and are often promoted as ethical ways to learn how to be a mahout etc, but the truth is not so pretty.
The government’s Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill, is clamping down on using animals abroad (from animal rides to dancing animals, and from zoos to aquariums). Along with chimps that have their teeth removed after being removed from parents, to have photos taken with children.
Report animal cruelty abroad to Born Free and PETA (also inform your local tour operator and the police).
Make Lives Better for ‘Draught Animals’
Draught animals are those used abroad for work (donkeys, horses and camels) again who work long hours with poor welfare in some cases – some communities still believe that splitting a donkey’s nostrils helps easier breathing). Others are chained up, to turn around all day to bring water up from wells.
The charity SPANA offers free vet care and training on animal welfare (you can report concerns). It also organises emergency response like helping animals during natural disasters like earthquakes.
Worldwide Veterinary Services uses donations to fund volunteer vets helping all kinds of animals abroad (including working draught animals).
Animal Aid Abroad has a sanctuary in India where camels have been treated for mange and maggot-infested wounds (due to old nose rings) or under their stomachs (due to saddle straps). Some also had treatment after being involved in road accidents.
Brooke helps millions of working horses, donkeys and mules worldwide. And trains those who work with the animals. It has 3 vet clinics to help 20,000 animals in Ethiopia and has a page where you can report any concerns if on holiday abroad. Its book Sharing the Load (in several languages) to educate communities abroad on helping draught animals.
Don’t Accept Donkey Rides (here or abroad)
It’s less popular these days, but donkey rides are (like horse carriages and Punch & Judy shows) gradually disappearing, in a better age of animal welfare. There are welfare checks (overseen by The Donkey Sanctuary) on remaining donkey rides on English beaches.
This was brought into place, due to needing strict riding weights, due to heavier children. But it will remains a boring life for sociable donkeys, who no doubt would prefer to be living in open fields, with their own kind.
It’s now the law that all donkeys on beaches in England, must have fresh water and shade. Only a few years ago, a petition to ban all UK donkey rides gained 100,000 signatures.
In a northern seaside town recently, some parents were in uproar, when the local man giving donkey rides, demanded to weight children, before letting them ride his animals. He was however inundated with support from the public, for trying to ensure good welfare for his donkeys.
Don’t Take Donkey Rides in Europe
A British family recently used Born Free’s Red Alert to report emaciated donkeys giving rides in a town on Costa del Sol, a popular tourist holiday destination. The charity and others have been lobbying the mayor of Mijas, to end donkey rides in this area, and let them go to the nearby donkey sanctuary.
Some were being made to stand in intense heat for hours, waiting for tourists to book a cart they had to pull along, often without access to water between rides.
Many were frothing at the mouth, some were falling down hills due to fatigue, and others were standing in their own urine, unable to move. A local said the donkeys are being worked seven days a week.
El Refugio del Burrito is the Spanish brand of The Donkey Charity, doing all it can to help. But it would be made a lot easier if British and other foreign tourists did not support the donkey ride industry. You can also report concerns to their website.
