A donkey handler violently attacked a female animal rights activist during a protest against the use of the animals to transport tourists on the Greek island of Santorini. The incident occurred on the Karavolades steps, a steep route where donkeys are commonly used to carry holidaymakers.
Video footage appears to show the activist walking away from a man holding a stick when he turns and strikes her in the face before pushing her against a wall. The woman then screams and falls onto the steps, as other activists are heard shouting.
Prior to the physical altercation, separate footage showed a group of donkey handlers confronting the activists, reportedly telling them not to take photos. One man is seen shoving a camera out of an activist's hand, while another man brandished a stick and threatened to call the police.
The activists were part of the animal rights organization PETA Germany. In a statement, PETA Germany said that the men "destroyed their protest signs and tried to prevent them from filming further," and that they "roughly grabbed the young women, insulted them, and forced them down the steps."
PETA Germany stated that the activists intended to protest the exploitation of donkeys used as "tourist taxis." They planned to demonstrate an "animal-friendly" alternative method for ascending the approximately 500 steps from Fira's port to the town, using robotic leg exoskeletons.
PETA Germany announced its intention to file criminal charges against the donkey handlers involved and is seeking information from tourists who may have witnessed the incident.
For decades, donkeys have been used to transport tourists up the steep steps. Concerns have been raised about the animals' welfare, with reports of spinal injuries, saddle sores, and exhaustion, particularly during hot weather. Images circulating on social media depicting overweight tourists riding donkeys have also drawn criticism.
The practice saw a decrease in use when a cable car was introduced, but demand for donkey rides surged with Santorini's increasing popularity as a tourist destination. Cruise ships alone can bring up to 17,000 visitors daily. The donkeys typically travel in lines, transporting tourists before returning for the next load, sometimes creating hazardous situations for pedestrians on the narrow path.
In recent years, numerous petitions have called for a ban on the use of donkeys for tourist transport on the island.