In many African villages, donkeys are not just animals they are part of the family and a big help in daily life. But every year, around six million donkeys slaughtered for Chinese to make products for traditional Chinese medicine. This is causing serious problems for villagers who depend on their donkeys to carry water, help with farming, and support their small incomes. A charity from the UK has shared deep concern about how badly this is hurting local communities.
The need for donkeys is growing quickly because of a Chinese product called ejiao. This product, often used as a health supplement, is made from collagen found in donkey skins. According to a research group in China named Qianzhan, this business has become very large and is now worth about $6.8 billion.
Between 1992 and 2023, the number of donkeys in China dropped sharply, going from 11 million to only 1.5 million. Because there are so few donkeys left in the country, China is now relying on African nations to provide the donkeys it requires.
Due to declining donkey numbers, the African Union implemented a 15-year ban on donkey slaughter last year. According to the UK charity, The Donkey Sanctuary, the demand for ejiao fuels a huge international market for donkey skins, much of which operates illegally. They estimate that approximately 5.9 million donkeys slaughtered globally in the past year.
By 2027, it is estimated that the ejiao industry will require no fewer than 6.8 million donkey skins. As the value of donkeys continues to rise, they are increasingly being hunted by criminals, which poses a serious threat to their survival. This increase in donkeys slaughtered for Chinese medicine production is putting great pressure on the populations.
The charity said that traders work through large groups of helpers who are well organized. They put a lot of pressure on donkey owners, especially those who are struggling, making it hard for them to say no to selling their animals. These criminal activities are driving the number of donkeys slaughtered for Chinese medicine even higher.
The charity said that illegal groups work secretly across the continent, stealing and donkeys slaughtered for Chinese at night without getting caught. Many donkeys suffer in dirty and tough conditions, and a lot of them die before they even reach the slaughterhouses.
Women and children are affected the most because they depend on donkeys for farming work and taking goods to the market. The Donkey Sanctuary also pointed out that these illegal activities create health problems for the people living in those areas.
If donkey skins are transported without being treated carefully and dead donkeys are dumped carelessly, it can lead to the spread of sickness and harm the local environment.
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