Visiting Petra? 4 Disturbing Reasons Why Animals Suffer in the ‘Lost City’
Petra, Jordan's ancient city, captivates visitors with its historic monuments and temples. However, beneath its allure lies the harsh reality of animal suffering. Here’s what to watch out for and how you can help:
Cruel Treatment of Animals by Handlers Over 1,300 horses, donkeys, and camels endure daily abuse as they transport tourists or pull carriages. Handlers openly whip these malnourished and exhausted animals with plastic pipes, ropes, chains, and whips to keep them moving.
Endless Labor Under Extreme Conditions Animals are subjected to continuous, arduous treks in sweltering heat, often without water or shade. Donkeys are forced to navigate the 900 eroded steps to Petra’s iconic monastery repeatedly, facing intensified beatings if they falter. A PETA Asia eyewitness video shows a handler violently kicking a donkey in the stomach for resisting after a long tour.
Painful Injuries from Improper Equipment Many animals suffer from wounds inflicted by tightly bound chains and ropes. PETA Asia reports seeing camels working with open, fly-infested wounds from ill-fitting bridles and donkeys with necks bloodied by chains.
Lack of intervention by officials Despite the visible suffering, Jordan's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has yet to take decisive action. There is an urgent need to replace these animals with eco-friendly, cruelty-free transportation options. Adopting such measures, as seen at other UNESCO sites, would allow tourists to appreciate Petra's history without endorsing animal cruelty, enhancing the country's reputation.
A Ray of Hope: The Saudi Prince's Intervention Following PETA’s Exposé
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, moved by a PETA exposé, has initiated a plan to alleviate the suffering of animals in Petra. His vision includes creating a sanctuary for the animals, restoring the steps to the site, and introducing custom electric vehicles with charging stations to transport tourists.
Prince Khaled shared with Plant Based News, “The vision is to restore and preserve the steps leading to the monastery, ensuring their beauty remains intact without the burden on animals. Animals should not be forced into labor or subjected to cruelty for human convenience.”
Collaborative Efforts to End Animal Abuse in Petra
PETA Asia has reached out to numerous travel agencies and hotels, urging them not to promote Petra until the use of animals is replaced with humane alternatives. Their collective stance is clear: Petra must adopt non-abusive transportation methods.
A significant agreement has been made between Jordan’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Her Excellency Lina Annab; the Chief Commissioner of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, His Excellency Falah Omoush; and Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed of KBW Investments. This memorandum of understanding outlines major improvements, including the introduction of eco-friendly electric vehicles, the establishment of modern animal clinics, new water stations, and a ban on forcing animals to walk dangerous paths or carry heavy loads.
These initiatives aim to preserve Petra’s historic steps, address international visitor concerns, and end the cruel treatment of animals, marking a positive step forward for the iconic site.
Help Petra's languishing animals now.
No animal willfully carries people up 900 stairs and kilometers in sweltering heat; they only do it out of fear that they will be punished if they don’t. It's our responsibility to save those thinking and sentient beings from this misery because they have personalities, feel emotions, and value life just like we do.
Donkeys, mules, camels, and horses are among the animals that suffer in Petra; please refuse to ride them at the historical site.