Half the world's donkey population could be wiped out in the next five years, as millions are slaughtered for their hides to meet rising demand for a traditional Chinese medicine, according to a new report from the Donkey Sanctuary. The report estimates that 4.8 million donkey hides a year are needed to satisfy demand for ejiao, a gelatin-based traditional medicine.
Donkey populations in Brazil have declined by 28% since 2007, by 37% in Botswana and by 53% in Kyrgyzstan. There are fears that populations in Kenya and Ghana could also be decimated by the skin trade. The report reveals that many donkeys are stolen from communities that rely on them for their livelihoods, and are transported on long journeys without food or water, with up to 20% dying en route.
Faith Burden, director of research and operational support at the Donkey Sanctuary, described the welfare infringements as “absolutely horrendous”. The report notes that even pregnant mares, young foals, and sick or injured donkeys are being slaughtered, as injury and illness often do not affect the quality of the hide.
Donkey numbers in China have fallen by 76% since 1992, leading the country to turn to global imports. The Donkey Sanctuary says investment in donkey farming is needed, but it could take 20 years to reach required levels. Burden explained that donkeys are slow to reproduce, with a gestation period of a year and slow maturity, and fertility rates are poor under farmed conditions.
Eighteen countries have taken action to tackle the donkey hide industry, but even where slaughter has been outlawed, such as in Ghana and Mali, lack of regulation means the practice often continues or donkeys are shipped across borders. The report also raises concerns about the spread of disease, including zoonotic diseases like anthrax and tetanus.
The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine in the UK strongly condemned the practice, calling it unethical and unnecessary. It advocates ethical plant-based alternatives or the use of beef, pork or chicken gelatine. The Donkey Sanctuary acknowledged the importance of ejiao in Chinese cultural heritage but called for sustainable alternatives, such as artificially grown donkey-derived collagen.
