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Greece has taken steps to lift a great burden from the shoulders of donkeys all over Santorini.

A new law will prevent anyone weighing more than 100kgs from riding any of the island’s donkeys, meaning tourists may now be prevented from saddling up, if deemed too heavy.

Riding donkeys is an iconic and “authentic” experience for tourists, used as a popular way to scale the steep costal cliffs.

However, animal rights activists argue that donkeys have been suffering due to the difficult conditions experienced by the animals while working.

“Exhausted donkeys and mules are spending long days in the scorching sun, carrying tourists or heavy and harmful rubbish loads, with little to no water, food or shade,” said The Donkey Sanctuary, an animal welfare group.

The animals “should not be loaded with a weight excessive in size, age or physical condition,” the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food instructed.”

“Under no circumstances should be used animals unfit for work ie, ill animal, injured, animals in an advanced pregnancy as well as animals with poor maintenance of hoofs.”

“The animals should be given appropriate and adequate food and fresh drinking water daily, into containers which cannot be contaminated and are cleaned at least once a day.”

“Working equines should not be loaded with excessive weight for their size, age or physical condition. The load cannot exceed the weight of 100kg, or one fifth of their body weight.”