(Thumbnail Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Get more multi-source world news from Newsy.com
“I love this video. Do you see this? Do you see this thing here? It’s a flying mule, on a parasail. Just off it goes.” (Fox News)
Recently surfaced video of a donkey being forced to go parasailing over a Russian beach has sparked international concerns of animal cruelty. The donkey is unharmed, but he and his owner have gone missing.
We’re analyzing coverage of the reactions from Fox News, Russia Today, the Guardian, the Australian and the Independent.
The stunt was meant to promote tourism to the Russian beach, and a local parasailing business was involved. While the donkey was fine after the event, Russia Today says animal rights activists want the police to take action against the culprits.
“Local animal rights activists decided to file a lawsuit against the business owners and that actually may put them away for up to two years since under Russian law, there’s punishment for brutal acts against animals.”
The Guardian says many were shocked at the event because the donkey is a well-known figure in that Russian town.
"He worked for several years on the beach, being photographed with tourists. As soon as his ordeal was over, a lot of the people on the beach ran forward to soothe him."
While onlookers may have been worried for the donkey’s safety, a local police officer told the Australian that someone should have done something.
“The donkey brayed and the children cried but no one had the brains to call the police."
Some are now saying that watching video of the event is also a kind of animal cruelty. But a writer for the Independent says that while the donkey’s ordeal was horrific, no one should be reprimanded for watching.
“...Speaking without a news hat on, it just is quite a funny video. You don’t have to be a pervert to think so. It’s just the completely unexpected image of a DONKEY wearing a PARACHUTE.”
So what do you think? Is it wrong to watch the video? Or do the allegations of animal cruelty only belong to the culprits?
Get more multi-source news from Newsy.com
Writer: Keertana Sastry
Producer: Newsy Staff
 |  |  |  |
