Why are African Donkeys Being Stolen and Killed?

Donkeys are disappearing around the world, and fast. The current increase in donkey slaughter stems from demand in Asia, where donkey hides are used in the production of "ejiao." This traditional Chinese medicine is believed to improve blood circulation, cure insomnia and dizziness. The rising demand for ejiao comes at a time when China's own donkey population is decreasing. As a result, donkeys in Africa are being sold, killed, and their skins exported to China to produce ejiao. Across Africa, donkeys are dying. Kenya recently opened up its first donkey slaughterhouse, and Egypt has gone a step further with plans to export 10,000 live donkeys to China - a horrific journey which will end in their deaths.

There are over 100 million working donkeys, horses and mules around the world. Sadly, in many countries where donkeys and other equines are used as working animals, access to or acceptance of humane euthanasia is not common, and so these gentle and giving animals are often abandoned when they are no longer able to work. In these circumstances, the most welfare friendly end of life scenario for old or injured donkeys who cannot be nursed back to health, may well be to be killed in an abattoir. However, our information on the African donkey exportation situation seems to indicate that it is not old donkeys heading for theabattoirs, but young, healthy ones.

Some African countries, including Niger and neighboring Burkina Faso, have introduced bans on donkey exports to stem the trade. This has benefits, but also risks driving the trade underground. It can lead to theft of donkeys and illegal slaughter hidden from any regulation whatsoever or without any concern for minimizing animal suffering. In South Africa, the surge in demand for donkeys has led to an upswing of donkey theft.

Donkeys and other equines are used as the tractors, taxis and engines who power developing countries' industry, so the disturbingly large numbers of animals dying daily in African abattoirs also represents a significant loss to communities. While people depend on donkeys to carry firewood, water or feed for other animals, and also bring goods to market so they can earn a living for their families, this new situation is hard for them as well as brutal for the donkeys. In some places, the price of replacing a donkey has quadrupled as a result of increased demand from China.

More governments are becoming concerned by the number of donkeys being killed in their respective countries, and the consequences of having their populations decimated. It is making governments consider the importance of what donkeys contribute in their regions - a positive step, but it must be followed up by rational solutions that are focused on animal welfare.

There are many different viewpoints on the current rise in the donkey hide trade, and while there is no simple solution, one group specifically campaigns on behalf of working horses and donkeys. Brooke's primary objective is to prevent equine suffering. We are tackling the issue on a country to country basis, working alongside governments and communities to help protect donkeys and people's livelihoods at the same time. We recently succeeded in having donkeys' significant contributions to food security and nutrition officially recognized by the UN.

Brooke teams are standing shoulder to shoulder with donkeys and the communities that rely on them, working tirelessly to ensure that the welfare of the donkeys stands out as a prime concern and that this is considered and managed in any route a government decides to take.

If you have not already done so, please sign the following alerts to help donkeys:

Stop Egypt's Plans to Ship 10,000 Donkeys to Die in China

Shut Down Kenya's First Donkey Slaughterhouse Killing 100 Donkeys a Day