Illegal Donkey Trade for Wellness Products Exposed in Global Investigation
Donkeys stolen and slaughtered to make wellness products sold on Amazon
Image: Mirror
A recent investigation reveals that donkeys are being stolen and slaughtered for their hides to produce ejiao, a wellness product sold globally, including on platforms like Amazon. The illegal trade threatens donkey populations in Africa and the livelihoods of local communities.
- 01Over six million donkeys are killed annually for their hides, which are processed into ejiao, a substance used in traditional Chinese medicine and cosmetics.
- 02The illegal donkey hide trade is booming in Africa, with charities warning that local donkey populations could be wiped out.
- 03Dr. Raphael Kinoti from Brooke highlights that consumers are indirectly supporting a trade that impoverishes communities reliant on donkeys.
- 04Products containing ejiao are sold online in the UK, despite warnings from the UK Food Standards Agency against their import.
- 05The African Union banned the slaughter of donkeys for their hides in 2024, but illegal practices continue to thrive.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
An investigation has uncovered the alarming trend of donkeys being stolen and slaughtered to produce ejiao, a gelatin-like substance marketed as a wellness product. More than six million donkeys are killed each year, primarily in Africa, where the demand for ejiao has led to a booming illegal trade. This trade not only threatens donkey populations but also devastates local communities that rely on these animals for their livelihoods. Dr. Raphael Kinoti from Brooke: Action for Working Horses and Donkeys warns that consumers purchasing ejiao products are complicit in this trade, which drives many into poverty. In the UK, ejiao is sold on platforms like Amazon, despite the UK Food Standards Agency advising against its import due to health concerns. The African Union has made it illegal to kill donkeys for their hides, yet illegal slaughter persists, with reports of extreme cruelty involved in the process. Local farmers, like Beth Wambui from Kenya, share their struggles after losing their donkeys to theft, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The illegal trade in donkey hides is causing severe economic hardship for communities in Africa that depend on donkeys for transportation and agricultural work.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
What do you think should be done to combat the illegal donkey trade?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.