The Blog

The donkey skin trade is a large scale, often illegal and unregulated industry that significantly impacts animal welfare, community livelihoods, and global health and ecosystems. Driven by the rising demand for a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient known as ejiao, this trade affects millions of donkeys and the people who depend on them.

The Driver: Ejiao

Ejiao (pronounced “eh-gee-yow”) is a gelatinous substance derived from the collagen found in boiled donkey skins. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and is increasingly processed into various beauty products, where it is believed to offer health benefits, including improved blood circulation, anti-aging properties, and treatments for insomnia and dry cough. The surge in demand for ejiao can be directly linked to the rise of China’s middle class, resulting in a catastrophic decline in the domestic donkey population.

The Process and Its Impacts

To satisfy the soaring demand for ejiao, the donkey skin trade sources animals from around the globe, predominantly from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The implications of this trade are devastating and multifaceted.

Animal Welfare: The slaughter process is characterised by extreme cruelty. Donkeys are often subjected to inhumane transport conditions, enduring long journeys in overcrowded and hazardous environments without adequate access to food, water, or rest. The slaughter itself is commonly unregulated and unsanitary, with instances of donkeys being killed in front of each other, exacerbating their suffering.

Impact on Communities: The donkey skin trade has dire consequences for communities that rely on these animals for transportation, agricultural labour, and economic support. As donkeys are stolen or killed for their skins, many families are pushed deeper into poverty. Women and girls, who often undertake the physical labour that donkeys previously provided, feel the brunt of this loss, disrupting their opportunities for livelihood and education.

Legality and Crime: The trade operates within a confusing legal landscape, where it may be legal in some nations while banned in others. This ambiguity allows criminal gangs to exploit the situation, often using the donkey skin trade as a façade for trafficking other illegal wildlife products.

Health and Environment: The unregulated slaughter and cross border movement of untreated donkey skins raise significant biosecurity concerns. The potential for spreading infectious diseases, such as glanders or equine flu, poses serious risks to both animal and human health. Furthermore, improper disposal of carcasses contributes to environmental pollution, compromising local ecosystems.

Responses and Alternatives

Organisations focused on animal welfare, such as The Donkey Sanctuary and Brooke, are vigorously campaigning for a global ban on the donkey skin trade. Recently, in February 2024, the African Union endorsed an Africa wide ban on the slaughter of donkeys for their skins, although enforcement of this ban remains a significant challenge.

Advocates are also urging the ejiao industry to explore sustainable and humane alternatives, such as producing collagen through cellular agriculture in laboratories. This transition could alleviate the demand for donkey skins while ensuring public health and animal welfare are safeguarded.

Support is crucial for organisations committed to animal welfare and community aid. By contributing to Brooke, you can help improve the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules worldwide. For more information on how to get involved and support their initiatives, visit Brooke’s website.

Additionally, supporting The Donkey Sanctuary aids in the rescue and rehabilitation of donkeys, emphasising the need for compassionate treatment towards these animals in our communities.

Conclusion

The donkey skin trade is a pressing issue that demands urgent attention. Its implications on animal welfare, community stability, and public health create an urgent need for action and alternative solutions. By raising awareness, supporting organisations dedicated to ending this trade, and exploring sustainable practices, we can contribute to a more humane world for both donkeys and the communities that depend on them.