Victory! Donkey Skin Trade Banned by African Union
In a landmark decision, a 15-year ban will soon make it illegal to slaughter donkeys for their skin throughout the African continent.
The African Union has banned the donkey skin trade across the entire continent as it aims to protect equines from the ejiao industry.
Popular in traditional Chinese medicine products and marketed as having luxury and anti-aging benefits, ejiao is derived from boiling donkey hides. The demand sees between four and six million donkeys slaughtered for their skins every year - about 10 percent of the world’s donkey population.
After the number of donkeys in China fell from 11 million in 1990 to just under two million in 2021, companies began sourcing skins from overseas, particularly in Africa.
Calls have grown in recent years for an Africa-wide 15-year donkey slaughter moratorium, with communities relying on the animals for their livelihood threatened by plummeting donkey populations.
“This is a truly momentous result for the welfare of donkeys in Africa,” said Marianne Steele, the Chief Executive of The Donkey Sanctuary, who has long been campaigning against the donkey skin trade. “Donkeys are sensitive and intelligent creatures who deserve protection for their own sakes and for the countless communities who rely on them.”
“It’s our hope that this decision will act as a catalyst for the rest of the world to act now, not just to save our donkey populations but to actively recognize their value and protect them properly,” she added
“Donkeys are sensitive and intelligent creatures who deserve protection for their own sakes.”
A New Era for Donkey Welfare
The continent wide ban by the African Union, consisting of 55 member states, was agreed during the 37th African Union Summit on February 18th in Ethiopia.
This move follows multiple campaigns against the ejiao trade by animal protection groups in and outside Africa, including Brooke, The Donkey Sanctuary, PETA, and Species Unite, who say that donkeys are subjected to cruel treatment and a painful death.
PETA Asia's 2017 investigation into Chinese donkey farms revealed concerning conditions. Animals were found in cramped, filthy pens, subjected to beatings at markets, and faced brutal deaths at slaughterhouses.
The Donkey Sanctuary’s multiple groundbreaking data investigations have also exposed the overarching impacts of the donkey skin trade, including biosecurity, the illegal wildlife trade, and its effect on women and communities.
Although the news is a huge step forward for protecting donkeys, advocates say there are still challenges, particularly in stifling the trade in other countries: “It shows how Africa is now showing leadership on tackling the illegal wildlife trade, whereas many Western countries are not. This now needs to be taken outside of Africa, as other source countries are being targeted,” said Jennifer Croes, a conservation scientist in Dubai and strategic adviser to the Interpol Wildlife Crime Working Group.
A ban in Brazil, one of China’s biggest markets for donkey skin, is also on the table, with a bill to ban donkey and horse slaughter recently passing the agricultural and environmental commissions, and now headed to the Constitution and Justice Committee.
The ban will also have to be properly implemented and enforced across every African country. Dr Otieno Mtula, The Donkey Sanctuary’s Regional Campaigns and Advocacy Manager, said: “This milestone moment is just the beginning – this decision needs to be implemented and enforced by every country that makes up the African Union. We will work closely with our colleagues and partners across Africa to provide all the support and resources we can to see this commitment to a ban on the slaughter of donkeys for their skins become a reality across Africa and the start of a new era for donkey welfare.”
Your Impact and Next Steps
This ban will finally put a stop to the donkey skin trade in Kenya which Species Unite has passionately campaigned against for years, whilst shedding light on the issue. Over 30,000 individuals joined this fight by signing and sharing our petition, showcasing the power of collective action for animals. Thank you for being a part of this significant milestone for donkeys.
The fight is not over yet though. Species Unite will now ramp up our efforts to ban the trade in the United States. Although China is the biggest importer of donkey skin gelatin, the US accounts for an estimated $12 million worth of annual imports, making it complicit in the theft and murder of these animals. Over 41,000 supporters have signed our petition calling on officials to pass the H.R. 6021 - The Ejiao Act, which will make it illegal to import donkey skin gelatin. You can add your name here.
We are also urging our US supporters to contact your congressional representative directly. We recommend you send them a letter asserting your support for a ban on the horrific trade of donkeys once and for all. You can find the name of your specific congressional representative here and an example letter here.
Lastly, you can also support the multiple organizations that are fighting to end the use and trade of ejiao, such as adopting a donkey through The Donkey Sanctuary to provide food and medical care for one of their animals.
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