100 donkeys rescued from cruel slaughter en route to Lesotho

THE donkey skin trade has been dealt a blow after more than 100 animals were rescued en route to Lesotho where it is suspected they would've been slaughtered.

The NSPCA, together with the Mooi River SPCA and supported by international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary, intercepted the transport operation, saying they believed the donkeys would be slaughtered so their skins could be used for the production of a traditional medicine called ejiao.

Gelatin found in donkey hides is a key ingredient in producing ejiao.

Marcelle Meredith, executive director of the NSPCA, said the incident appears to signal a “shocking return of the donkey skin trade” after almost 18 months of apparent inactivity.

“The NSCPA began investigating the donkey skin trade over five years ago when large numbers of unexplained donkey skins were found across multiple farms.

“The manner in which donkey skins are obtained is gut-wrenching – starting from the way the animals are handled, transported, butchered and sometimes even skinned alive,” Meredith said.

Authorities from the SPCA found the donkeys, including several young foals, after intercepting a convoy of trucks heading from the Mooi River region in KwaZulu-Natal to the border with Lesotho – a country seeing an escalation in the illegal skin trade for the production of ejiao.

The donkeys were suffering with severe infections as well as open wounds and some even had ears missing.

Many of the animals were extremely thin with ribs showing through their hides. They were also infested with ticks.

Police arrested six suspects travelling with the donkeys for having no passports of their own or legal travel permits for the animals and on suspicion of animal cruelty.

Around 36 mothers and young foals were despatched to the Kloof and Highway SPCA facility near Durban.

The remaining donkeys travelled to the Johannesburg SPCA, where they will continue to be cared for until they can be rehomed.

The Donkey Sanctuary was able to support the NSPCA with funding for the transportation costs.

Senior inspector from NSPCA’s Farm Animal Protection Unit Grace de Lange said: “We are so grateful for the support of The Donkey Sanctuary.

“The charity’s generosity means we can now focus our efforts and funding appeals on the long-term welfare, veterinary needs and rehoming of these donkeys, which have suffered terrible neglect and abuse at the hands of brutal animal traders.”

Simon Pope, tactical response lead for The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “The NSPCA works incredibly hard to combat the illegal skin trade in South Africa, and Grace and her team are on the front line of that battle.

“This rescue of donkeys destined for slaughter is inspirational. So, too, is the devotion and care now being given to these hard-working animals.”