The leaders of the African Union (AU) member states made the historic decision at the AU summit in Ethiopia to approve a motion announcing a 15-year ban on donkey skins for member states. This decision is a direct response to the growing demand for African donkey skins in the Chinese market, which is mainly used for the production of traditional Chinese medicine ejiao, which has led to the slaughter of more than 5 million donkeys every year. The ban is expected to deal a major blow to China's ejiao production, while also offering a glimmer of hope for Africa's biodiversity and farmers' livelihoods.
About two-thirds of the African continent's donkeys, about 53 million heads, live here. In some African countries, donkeys are seen as a bridge between poverty and modest livelihoods, and they play an integral role in rural communities, transporting water, food and other necessities. However, China's demand for ejiao has led to a surge in African donkey skins, which not only pose a threat to donkeys, but also weaken the livelihood of African farmers.
Organisations such as Brooke, a UK-based animal welfare charity, and UK-based Donkey Sanctuary welcomed the AU's decision. They have long called for an end to donkey skins, arguing that they are cruel and unsustainable. This decision by the AU is seen as a protection for African communities and their livelihoods, as well as for the preservation of biodiversity.
Onyango (Dr. Oniyango, Kenya Donkey Sanctuary)Solomon Onyango) said that although it initially saw donkey skins as an opportunity to allow multiple legal slaughterhouses to open, it soon became aware of the negative social and ecological impact of this. In Kenya, about half of all donkeys are slaughtered for donkey skins in just three years. The AU's ban is expected to put an end to this phenomenon and help millions of farmers who depend on donkeys for their livelihoods.
In addition, the South China Morning Post reported that in addition to African countries, Brazil** has also recently passed a bill banning the slaughter of donkeys and horses, which is currently before Congress. This suggests that opposition to donkey skins is not confined to Africa, but has become a global concern.