Greece has banned obese tourists from riding donkeys after animal rights campaigners said the creatures were being left with spinal injuries and open wounds. 希腊已禁止肥胖游客骑驴,因为动物权益保护者指出,这些游客给驴子造成了脊柱损伤和开放性创伤。 After images of donkeys climbing the narrow steps of the Greek island of Santorini laden down by large holidaymakers hit the headlines worldwide, lawmakers in the country have now pledged to do more to help the animals. 在不堪重负的驴子驮着肥胖游客在希腊圣托里尼岛狭窄的石阶上攀爬的照片登上了世界各地媒体的头条后,希腊立法者承诺采取更多行动来保护这些动物。 The Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food has published a new set of regulations regarding donkeys' well-being. 希腊农村发展和食品部已经针对驴子们的健康,发布了一系列新法规。 These state that donkeys giving tourists rides in Santorini should not carry any loads heavier than 100 kg or one fifth of their weight. 新法规指出,圣托里尼岛的载客驴不应该背负超过100公斤或自身体重1/5的重量。
It follows animal activists on the island claiming donkeys were being forced to carry ever-heavier loads while they work long hours, seven days a week without shelter, rest and water -- leaving them with spinal injuries and open wounds from ill-fitting saddles. 此前岛上的动物维权者声称,驴子被迫要负荷更重的重量,与此同时,驴还要长时间劳作,每周七天,没有遮蔽、没有休息和水,这会导致驴的脊柱受伤,并因鞍具不合适产生撕裂性伤口。 Santorini is known for its hilly terrain and donkeys have traditionally been used to transport people over the famously stepped areas which vehicles cannot access, such as in capital Fira. 圣托里尼岛以丘陵地貌闻名,传统上用驴子载游客登上那些车辆无法通过的著名石阶区,比如首府费拉的一些地区。 Maria Skourta, 42, the leader of the Athens branch of Direct Action Everywhere, claims: "We were content with the bulletin because the purpose of our organisation is to bring matters to light and initiate conversation." 动物保护组织“任何地方直接行动”的雅典分部领导人、42岁的玛莉亚·斯考塔表示:“我们对公告的结果感到满意,是因为我们组织的目的是揭露问题,发起对话。” "But our goal is not to improve the lives of slaves, is to free them entirely. While this means they will stop carrying fat tourists, the donkeys are still forced to carry cement, appliances, and all sorts of heavy weights." “但我们的目的不是改善被奴役牲口的生活,而是彻底解放它们。虽然新法规意味着驴子不用驼肥胖游客了,可它们依然要被迫驮水泥、器具和各种沉重的物品。”