Donkeys are on the brink of extinction in Africa after the population of donkeys has plummeted due to increased demand for beauty products, a report has found.
Approximately 6 million donkeys are slaughtered each year for their skin, from which collagen is extracted and used in food and drink supplements, beauty products such as face creams used in Chinese medicine, and sold as luxury goods. It has been.
China’s donkey population has been hit hard by the surge in popularity of such products, with China’s donkey population declining by 76 percent between 1992 and 2019, according to The Donkey Sanctuary. That’s what it means.
Dealers are now focusing on Africa, which has long had the world’s highest donkey population, but experts warn that the species is in crisis there. Merchants either persuade poor owners to sell the donkeys or steal them through illegal forest slaughter.
The deal is driven by increased demand for Ejiao (donkey skin glue), a traditional Chinese remedy that the manufacturer claims reduces wrinkles, cures anemia, boosts energy and boosts sex drive. .
Researchers say killing animals for their skins is not only extremely cruel, but also worsens the situation for women, children and communities who depend on the animals.
Donkey Sanctuary researchers used numbers and statistical modeling from the hide industry to calculate that 6.7 million hides would be needed by 2027 to meet demand. That’s up from 5.9 million today, but researchers say this number is the most conservative estimate.
With around 11 million donkeys in Africa, this calculation is alarming.
Adhesive production increased by 160% in the five years from 2016 to 2021, according to a new report.
It also says social media platforms facilitate illegal trade by allowing sellers to advertise.
Calvin Solomon Onyango, director of Kenya’s Donkey Sanctuary, said: “Traders working in the Ijao industry persuade people already on the brink of poverty to sell their livestock for short-term profits.” talk.
“The reality is that in many communities there is a long-term loss of livelihoods and ultimately a way of life.
“The devastating impact of the trade has led governments in countries including Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania to outlaw donkey slaughter.
“However, the demand is so great that illegal bush slaughter has now emerged, with hundreds of donkeys being pillaged or stolen and slaughtered for their skins.
“Judging by what we’ve seen here in Kenya, if exploitation of donkeys continues at this rate, donkeys could become an endangered species in Africa in three to six years, along with rhinos and elephants.” said Dr. Onyango.
Donkey slaughter is illegal in some countries, but legal in others. On Sunday, African Union leaders will debate whether to ban slaughter across Africa.
Researchers said this would be the most important donkey protection measure ever enacted on the African continent.
In Brazil, large numbers of donkeys are trafficked and killed for their skins, and a bill to ban their slaughter is expected to be passed by Congress this year.
Marian Steele, chief executive of the Donkey Sanctuary, said: ‘The six million donkeys being slaughtered each year is a catastrophe for animal welfare.
“Donkeys are a lifeline to people living in some of the most difficult environments on earth, and their loss can mean the difference between modest survival and poverty.”