09.02.2010 10:05 msk

Ferghana.Ru

Until recently such vehicles could be occasionally observed in the older part of Samarqand. It seemed like last-century vehicles were totally replaced by modern cars. Paradoxically, the animal-drawn transport is seeing its renaissance. The wood-made vehicles, drawn by donkeys, can be observed throughout Samarqand. In the era of nano-technologies and space tourism the long-eared animals are actively involved in the life of Samarqand residents that have occasional earnings.

In the morning some local unemployed people ride their animal-drawn vehicles around landfills, looking for waste paper, plastic items, empty bottles, accepted as secondary raw materials.

The extensive reconstruction of Samarqand also significantly influenced higher demand for donkeys. The old and illegal buildings are being destructed; therefore, the dwellers take away the construction materials. “The entrepreneurs” sell and deliver old wood, bricks and pipes.

Most active transporters sell non-ferrous metal items. In order to raise the vehicle capacity the owners install deep and wide boxes.

The increase of animal-drawn vehicles is also reasoned by another fact: in the winter time the village people sell animal feed in Samarqand. The fattening of cows and sheep became one of the most profitable investment opportunities for the city residents, free of inflation risk.

Due to higher demand for donkeys their prices also started growing. The most popular ones are 3-5 year old animals that cost about 80-100 US dollars. Among other selection criteria speed is the key parameter.

Unfortunately, sometimes the donkeys cause the traffic accidents. Due to their natural stubbornness these animals do not keep out of the way of modern vehicles. Sometimes this produces tragic consequences; one long-eared animal died in “traffic accident” last year.

Maxim Isaev

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