CHINA’S EQUINE SKIN TRADE
Donkeys’ brutal last days — how you can help
JANUARY 2, 2018. The dust has barely settled on New Year’s Eve celebrations, but for donkeys all over the world, the party is over. China has just delivered a devastating blow by lowering its import tax on donkey skins. “It’s baffling why China has made this move,” says Simon Pope, rapid response and campaigns manager at global charity The Donkey Sanctuary. “We can only attribute it to the fact that supplies of donkey skins are drying up.” The skins are a key ingredient in a Chinese product called ejiao, made from the gelatin of boiled-up donkey skins. Marketed for its anti-ageing properties, ejiao is used in food, drink and beauty products – and business is booming. The problem is, demand is far outstripping the supply. Donkey numbers in China have fallen dramatically in the past few years, with government data suggesting that there were 11 million donkeys in 1990 but just three million in 2017. By lowering the import tax on skins, China has made it easier to fill the gap by sourcing donkeys from elsewhere. “Donkeys are being taken from all over the world,” says Simon. “China is hoovering donkeys out of Africa and beyond.”
Why is it a problem?
Animals are killed for products every day, so why is donkey farming such a big issue? “Using donkeys in the manner that China is doing is unsustainable,” says Kimberly Wells, senior welfare advisor for Brooke, Action for Working Horses and Donkeys. Part of the problem is that donkeys have a low reproduction rate – often having just one foal a year – so they’re difficult to farm. “China is starting to farm them, but it’s difficult to meet the demand,” she adds. This is where importation comes in and countries in Africa are currently capitalising on the industry. “Kenya recently set up three donkey abattoirs,” says Simon. “One of these is capable of killing 450 donkeys a day. It’s so unsustainable and incredibly wasteful. The only thing of value is the skin – there’s no real money to be made out of the meat.”
Far-reaching effects
As a result of the eijao trade, the price of a donkey in Africa has sky-rocketed in the past few years and many donkey owners are
“Kenya recently set up three donkey abattoirs. One of these is capable of killing 450 donkeys a day”
being tempted to sell. While this creates capital initially, it can disable communities who rely on equines in the long run. “People need donkeys for work, to transport food, water and themselves. This is lost if they sell their donkey,” explains Geoffrey Dennis, chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA). Even if people don’t sell, the safety of their donkeys is by no means guaranteed. The animals are so valuable that it’s driving the trade underground into criminal hands. “We started to notice a surge of working equines being targeted in 2016,” says Kimberly. “Donkeys are often stolen at night and it has a devastating effect on the people who rely on them. In terms of the illegal trade, slaughter is often inhumane too. Sometimes, the skin is removed while the donkey is still conscious.” Slaughter processes are generally split into two groups — illegal ‘bush’ slaughter involving stolen donkeys, and legal slaughterhouses that are led by African governments. Even down the legal route, the outlook for donkeys is bleak. “The whole thing is appalling,” adds Geoffrey. “People literally throw live donkeys into the back of a lorry to transport them,” Simon adds. “Sometimes the donkeys are transported for two to three days,” he says. “There’s little incentive for people to feed, water or offer them veterinary care.” When donkeys arrive at their final destination, the end is often anything but quick. With such little value placed on donkey meat and a belief that the skin is easier to remove if the donkey is starved, many animals spend their final days in miserable conditions. “Brooke has seen welfare deficits at each stage of the process,” says Kim. “Sometimes, welfare is compromised to an upsetting degree.”
What’s being done?
It’s a bleak situation, but despite China’s recent move, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Many countries are now moving towards banning the export of skins to China, and organisations such as Brooke, SPANA and The Donkey Sanctuary are working with governments and within communities to help them appreciate the true value of their donkeys. “We work within communities and schools to educate people about why donkeys are important and how to care for them,” explains Geoffrey. “We also help owners by setting up security to keep their donkeys safe and offer free veterinary care.” “At The Donkey Sanctuary, we feel the best way to demonstrate is to lobby governments and companies,” says Simon. “We recently got ebay to stop selling eijao after we made them aware of the problems. “Regulating the industry isn’t the answer. It needs to be stopped.”