China’s Ejiao boom kills six million donkeys a year , Pg9

Key Highlights:

• A U.K.-based charity reported in June that nearly 6 million donkeys are killed annually for Ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine.
• Ejiao production has increased by 390% from 3,200 tonnes in 2013 to 15,700 tonnes in 2021, requiring almost 6 million donkey hides.
• China's donkey population has plummeted by 87%, from 11 million in 1990 to 1.5 million in 2023, due to high demand for donkey hides.
• The African Union imposed a continent-wide ban on donkey exports in 2024, but illegal trade continues.

Detailed Insights:

• The demand for Ejiao, made from donkey hide gelatin, has risen in China due to perceived health benefits, though these are not scientifically proven.
• To meet the demand, China imports donkey hides from South America and Africa, with African countries accounting for 51% of imports between 2015-2025.
• The trade leads to the exploitation of donkeys, often transported in poor conditions, raising the risk of zoonotic diseases.
• Several African and South American countries have experienced steep declines in their donkey populations due to trade with China; for example, Egypt's donkey population decreased by 68% from the 1990s to the 2020s.
• The loss of donkeys impacts vulnerable communities that rely on them for transporting goods, with women and girls often bearing the burden of replacing the animal's labor.
• Increased demand has led to a surge in donkey prices; in Kenya, the cost of a donkey increased from £78 in 2016 to £156 in 2019.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ejiao: A traditional Chinese medicine derived from gelatin in donkey hides, believed to have health benefits.
• Zoonotic Diseases: Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.