By Abdullahi Inuwa
Despite mounting international concern and several regional bans, the demand for donkey skins—driven largely by China’s traditional medicine industry—continues to endanger both African donkey populations and the livelihoods of those who depend on them.
Several African nations, including Botswana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda, have outlawed the slaughter of donkeys for skin exports. In a major move, the African Union in 2024 imposed a 15-year moratorium on the killing of donkeys across the continent. However, the trade shows no signs of slowing.
In fact, during the year that Kenya lifted its own restriction, the country reportedly exported over 160,000 donkey hides, as documented by researchers from Brooke, an international animal welfare organization.
In many cases, enforcement of the bans remains weak. While countries may prohibit exports, the lack of meaningful penalties allows the illegal trade to flourish. Nigeria has emerged as a key transit point for both authorized and illicit shipments of donkey skins destined for Chinese markets. Egypt also harbors an underground trade, while the porous border between Burkina Faso and Ghana has become another hotspot for smuggling.
A recent crackdown in Kenya exposed an illegal but large-scale slaughter operation in Kithyoko, a community straddling the border of Machakos and Kitui counties. Donkeys were trucked in from various parts of the country to feed the ongoing demand.
At the heart of this crisis is ejiao, a gelatin made from boiled donkey skins and used in traditional Chinese medicine. While prized for its alleged health benefits, the global rush for ejiao has had devastating side effects—not just on donkeys, but on African communities that rely on them for farming, transportation, and everyday livelihoods.
“The current pace and reach of the donkey skin trade are unsustainable,” Brooke researchers warned. “The impact is catastrophic, not just for the animals, but for the rural populations that depend on them. It’s the poorest communities that suffer the most.”
As the trade intensifies, calls are growing for stronger enforcement, regional cooperation, and alternative solutions that protect both animals and the people who depend on them.
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