Donkey Skin Trade a ‘Ticking Time Bomb’ for Spread of Deadly Diseases

THINK

Nov 18

In addition to causing immense animal suffering, a new report warns that the rapidly growing demand for donkey skin is putting the world at risk of dangerous zoonotic diseases.

The global trade in donkey skins is a "ticking time bomb" for the spread of infectious diseases among humans and animals, according to a damning new report.

Around 4.8 million donkeys are slaughtered for their skins every year to meet the demand for ejiao - a gelatin-based ingredient, made from boiling the hides of donkeys, and used in cosmetics, candy, and traditional Chinese medicine. This is resulting in steep declines in donkey populations around the world, particularly across Africa.

Attempts to curb the trade have led multiple countries including Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria to ban the export of donkey skins, but despite this, sellers continue to operate illegally, with social media multinationals coming under fire for facilitating the trade. The sale of donkey skins remains legal in South Africa, Mauritania, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Botswana.

Credit: The Donkey Sanctuary/The Global Trade in Donkey Skins: A Ticking Time Bomb

Now, in addition to causing immense animal suffering, a new report by The Donkey Sanctuary, warns that the rapidly growing trade is putting the world at risk of zoonotic diseases. Testing of 108 donkey skin samples from a slaughterhouse in Kenya revealed that 88 of them were positive for Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, a common cause of skin infections including abscesses, respiratory infections, and food poisoning in humans. Half of those were positive for the antibiotic-resistant MRSA strain, three of which were positive for the flesh-eating toxin Panton-Valentine leucocidin.

“The global trade in donkey skins should be halted immediately,” said Marianne Steele, Chief Executive of The Donkey Sanctuary. “We now have evidence it is neither humane, sustainable nor safe and allowing it to continue, given the risks we have revealed, is unanswerable.

“If nothing else, the recent lessons of Covid-19, and the current outbreak of avian flu, should make us sit up and take notice of the emerging threats that zoonotic diseases pose,” she added.

The global nature of the trade combined with the often unhygienic slaughter conditions of huge numbers of donkeys, including those that are sick, are contributing to the high biosecurity risks associated with the ejiao industry. In addition, countries where the donkey skins are imported, are at risk of potential disease outbreaks in their own equine populations. And as the trade is generally unregulated and secretive, shipments are impossible to track, meaning that infected skins cannot be traced.

“The global trade in donkey skins is cruel and inhumane, unregulated and unnecessary, which results in suffering for donkeys and donkey-dependent communities on a devastating scale”, said Steele. “While many may choose to turn away from the direct impacts on animals and people, I would implore consumers, governments and the wider public to take notice of the risks to animal and human health.”

The findings of the report will be presented at the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources Pan-African Donkey Conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, taking place on 1–2 December 2022.

What Can You Do?

Species Unite has been working to shine a light on and rally strong opposition against the donkey skin trade through our hard-hitting petitions and content - the more global attention this issue gets, the more chance we have of ending the trade for good.

As a prominent driver of the global trade in ejiao, American consumers have a responsibility to educate themselves and others about this devastating industry and to help combat it. A bill to ban the import of donkey skin gelatin has been introduced in Congress. H.R. 5203 - The Ejiao Act, amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and bans the knowing sale or transport of ejiao made using donkey skin, or products containing ejiao made using donkey skin, in interstate or foreign commerce. In an interconnected world where supply is based on demand, we can make a difference here in the United States to help put a stop to this horrific international trade once and for all. Please join Species Unite in calling on Congress to pass the Ejiao Act by signing this petition.

We have also been calling for the Kenyan government to reinstate its ban on the slaughter of donkeys. The country announced the ban in 2020, but this was overturned just a few months later. You can add your name to the petition here.

We Have A Favor To Ask…

Species Unite amplifies well-researched solutions to some of the most abusive animal industries operating today.

At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help.

We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year.

Share on facebook

Share on Twitter