I met a local man who wants to end the cruelty and exploitation of the horses when I was in Gili Trawangan. He wishes to remain anonymous but has connected me to the Gili workers Facebook page where I plan to send the petition along with an accompanying letter. He will help us direct the petition to decision makers on the island to help make the necessary changes.  

The animal cruelty

The island was paradise, and the people were exceptionally welcoming. We really loved our visit; however, we were left extremely unsatisfied by the primary mode of transport on the island which is the horse-drawn carts, also known as Cidomos. There are several complications with the horse-drawn carts which need to be addressed. 

First and foremost, the horse and cart transportation system poses a significant threat to the welfare of the animals for the following reasons:  

• The horses appear malnourished and in no physical state to be used to pull the carts or for horseback riding. On no occasion did we see the horses being fedduring our 4-night stay.
• Many of the horses were salivating from their mouth, typically meaning they were exceptionally dehydrated,yet on no occasion did we see the horses being given water, despite working long hours in the 37-degree Celsius heat. This was visibly difficult for locals to work in, yet the poor horses were expected to do the same, plus, carry mass amount of weight on their back. 
• The horses appeared to work extended periods without adequate rest. The horses looked exhausted, as they were left hungry and dehydrated, holding their carts in long lines waiting on bars closing at night, to transport the next load of tourists back to their accommodation.
• There were no other means of transport on the island when travelling with our luggage. We were informed by our hotel and local people that alternative transport such as by electric bike, was not allowed to be used to transport tourists or their luggage, in order to promote the use of the horse and cart.

So, we ask for more regulation around the treatment of the horses used in the horse and cart transport system in Gili Trawangan. We also ask for firm laws and policy to be put in place to hold the owners of the horses to meet certain regulatory standards around the welfare of the animals,mainly around food, water and rest. Gili Trawangan could help fund this by charging a “cidamo tax” to all tourists when they arrive on the island. This could support the horse owners as well as their horses, to ensure they are well looked after and alleviate any animal welfare concerns.

Supporting evidence

We are aware through discussion that other tourists had similar concerns about the welfare of the horses. Further, local people we spoke to were also concerned about the welfare of the animals and called for an alternative transportation system. There are also many articles and videos online supporting our concern over the welfare of the horses used in the horse and cart transport system, please see below: 

• https://roamingvegans.com/gili-islands-horses/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@krsidey/video/7236601407934074138?_r=1&_t=8dJ2GyY4V0V&social_sharing=v2
• https://www.tiktok.com/@stasiaraetravels/video/7200273005757467947?_r=1&_t=8dJ2POkLZff&social_sharing=v2
• https://www.tiktok.com/@issipeasylemonsqueezy/video/7221380306853448987?_r=1&_t=8dJ2VptUauQ&social_sharing=v2
• https://www.tiktok.com/@katderlust/video/7224038768469216539?_r=1&_t=8dJ2XbG9hCk&social_sharing=v2
• https://www.tiktok.com/@horses_of_gili/video/7199649425550101787?_r=1&_t=8dJ2g9sOl9m&social_sharing=v2

Alternative solutions

Adopting alternative transport solutions will improve the quality of transportation, preserve the welfare of the animals and be beneficial for the environment. Please see below solutions to the transportation problems on the island:

Electric bikes

• There is a need for people to be able to use electric bikes on the island to move around the island and transport luggage. People should be able to have the option to transport their luggage to their hotel by electric bike.

Electric minibuses/trams

• Electric minibuses/trams could operate on a fixed route around the island, making them an efficient solution for group travel. These vehicles can be cost- effective and more reliable than the horse and cart system, while also removing concerns of animal cruelty.

Electric golf carts 

• The island could purchase the horse and cart owners electric golf carts, or equivalent electric vehicles. We witnessed this transport system working very well in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam.

To summarise our points, we desperately ask for the immediate actions below:  

• Higher regulations of the horses used in the horse and cart transport system particularly around food, rest and water.
• The local government to allow the use of electric bikes to be used on the island, to transport both tourists and their luggage safely and without harm to animals.
• The government to consider and move towards adopting creative transport solutions such as elective bikes, the electric vehicle system and/ or golf carts.