How long have the donkey taxis been on the go in Mijas?

More than 30 years. The firm has five owners and we all inherited the business from our fathers.

How is it going?

The donkey taxi business is terrible. It’s not what it used to be, especially over the last few years. Winter is usually quiet and some days we don’t get a single tourist. In the summer business picks up a little but only just enough to get by and cover our costs. Just two or three trips a day, if we’re lucky.

Do you think that one of Mijas’s traditional tourist attractions could end up disappearing?

I don’t think they will disappear altogether. You have to bear in mind that the donkeys have brought tourism to Mijas. The village is known all over the world for its donkey taxis.

How many donkeys do you have?

Now we have 61, and 13 others that pull the carts. Some of them are old now. This is a bit like a football team: we rotate the donkeys so they don’t get tired and some get left on the subs’ bench.

Do you get any help?

The Town Hall lets us use its land but at the end of the day they charge us taxes the same as everybody else.

How much does it cost to keep the donkeys?

Three or four euros. They don’t eat a great deal. The problem is with their trappings. Craftsmen don’t make this type of traditional saddlebag anymore.

Who are your customers?

All foreigners. They let their children go for a donkey ride while they have a drink. We go round the village for ten euros.

Do you get any complaints?

Some complain the ride is too short or that there is too much traffic these days for donkeys to be on the roads, but little more. These are gentle creatures.