The global demand for Ejiao, a traditional medicinal remedy made from donkey skin, has led to the slaughter of millions of donkeys each year. This controversial trade has devastating effects on both donkeys and the communities that rely on them. The Donkey Sanctuary estimates that at least 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered annually to supply the Ejiao industry. While the demand for Ejiao continues to grow, there are growing concerns about the sustainability of this trade and its impact on the rural poor in Africa and other regions where donkeys are integral to everyday life.
Donkey thefts have become increasingly common across Africa and other parts of the world with large populations of working animals. Donkeys, like the ones owned by Steve, a water seller in Nairobi, are stolen and slaughtered for their skins, leaving their owners without a means of livelihood. The skins are then boiled down to extract the gelatin used in Ejiao production. The Donkey Sanctuary and other campaigners argue that the rising demand for Ejiao’s traditional ingredient is unsustainable and comes at the expense of the welfare of both donkeys and their owners.
The scale and rapid growth of the donkey skin trade have alarmed experts and activists, leading to anti-skin trade demonstrations in Kenya and other affected countries. Moreover, the trade has prompted African governments, as well as the government of Brazil, to consider banning the slaughter and export of donkeys. A proposal for an Africa-wide ban is set to be discussed at the African Union Summit. The hope is that such a ban will protect donkeys and prevent their populations from further depletion. However, there are concerns that banning the trade will simply shift it to other regions where it remains legal.
China, the main market for Ejiao, has seen a drastic decline in its donkey population in recent decades. As a result, Chinese companies have turned to sourcing their donkey skins overseas. Donkey slaughterhouses have been established in Africa, South America, and Asia to meet the demand. This has created a tug of war between countries that ban the trade and those that embrace it. While countries like Tanzania and Ivory Coast have banned the slaughter and export of donkey skins, neighboring Pakistan has become a major player in the trade, establishing “official donkey breeding farms” to meet the demand.
The economic value of the Ejiao market has skyrocketed, from about $3.2 billion in 2013 to approximately $7.8 billion in 2020. This has attracted concerns from public health officials, animal welfare activists, and international crime investigators. Research has revealed that shipments of donkey skins are used to traffic other illegal wildlife products, further exacerbating the negative consequences of the trade. National bans on the trade may lead to it going further underground, making it harder to enforce regulations and protect donkeys.
The debate about the value of donkeys to developing economies poses a fundamental question for state leaders. Donkeys are essential to rural life in many parts of the world, providing transportation, carrying goods, and supporting small-scale farmers. They are particularly important to women and girls, who bear the brunt of their loss when an animal is taken. Paradoxically, Ejiao, marketed primarily to wealthier Chinese women, depends on the slaughter of donkeys that have historically supported the livelihoods of the rural poor.
Efforts are underway to protect donkeys and their owners. Animal welfare organizations like the Donkey Sanctuary and Brooke are working to find donkeys for those who need them to access work and education. These organizations advocate for the development of sustainable alternatives to donkey skin, such as cellular agriculture, which allows for the production of collagen in labs. They emphasize the need for Ejiao companies to invest in these alternatives and to put an end to importing donkey skins altogether.
The donkey skin trade is widely regarded as unsustainable and inhumane. Donkeys are subjected to long journeys, cramped conditions, and public slaughter, causing immense suffering. The voices of activists, experts, and communities affected by the trade play a crucial role in advocating for change and pressuring governments and companies to address this issue. There is a need for collective efforts to raise awareness, enforce regulations, and promote sustainable alternatives to protect donkeys and the livelihoods they support.
