Egyptian Superstar Amy Samir Ghanem Calls for Kindness to Donkeys in Jordan
Offering fresh food to a lovable donkey, actor Amy Samir Ghanem stars in a new PETA ad to help animals who are forced to haul tourists, crates, and food on their backs.
Despite the oppressive desert heat, donkeys are forced to climb up and down steep hills with heavy loads—including camera-toting tourists—on their backs, and drivers regularly beat and whip the animals to force them to move. In Petra, Jordan, for example, donkeys and camels are given little to no water while inside the park gates, usually from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. They’re left in the sun and continually whipped by handlers.
Donkeys used to carry tourists and other heavy loads in Jordan are often given only very limited veterinary care, if any. Many suffer from lameness, colic, and exhaustion, and some endure these conditions for months without any treatment.
What You Can Do
If you’re traveling to the Middle East, please skip the donkey rides and, instead, offer water and fresh fruit to these overworked animals.
