Petra's donkeys struggle through the pandemic - in pictures

The hard-working animals once carried hordes of tourists but visitor numbers crashed

Horse and donkey rides are popular with tourists to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. The site reopened in May after closure because of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

Herds of hard-working donkeys once carried hordes of tourists on the rocky paths through Petra, in Jordan, but tourist numbers plummeted because of the coronavirus pandemic and many animals face an uncertain future. AFP

Horse and donkey owners in Petra use a clinic run by Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) , to keep their animals fit and healthy to carry tourists through the popular ancient city. AFP

A donkey owner waits for costumers in Petra, where visitor numbers crashed during the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP

The working donkeys of Petra and their owners rely on tourists for their livelihood, which is being greatly affected by pandemic restrictions on travel. AFP

Jordanians take their animals to the Peta clinic for treatment. AFP

Egyptian vet Hassan Shatta, an equine surgery specialist who runs the PETA clinic, treating donkeys and horses used by locals to transport visitors in the Jordanian ancient city of Petra. Herds of hard-working donkeys once carried hordes of tourists on the rocky paths of Jordan's Petra, but visitor numbers crashed amid coronavirus and the loyal animals now face the chop. AFP

Egyptian vet Hassan Shatta, an equine surgery specialist who runs the Peta clinic, treating a donkey used by a local man to carry visitors round the ancient city of Petra. AFP

Donkeys at the Peta clinic in the Jordanian city of Petra. AFP

Donkey owner Abdulrahman Ali, 15, feeds his animals at the Peta clinic. AFP

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