Cruel donkey slaughter threat to world population

MILLIONS of donkeys continue to be slaughtered for their hides to meet the rising demand for traditional Chinese medicine.

Over the last decade, donkey populations have plummeted around the world as demand for their skins reach record levels.

World Donkey Day was commemorated last weekend, but there was little to celebrate.

Donkeys continue to be slaughtered around the world at a rapid rate to feed the “cruel demand” for their skins in Asian countries, highly-prized as a medicinal tonic to prevent ageing and boost the immune system.

A new report by the Donkey Sanctuary has indicated that the huge spike in the culling of donkeys could lead to half the world’s donkey populations being wiped out in the next five years.

It is estimated that 4.8 million donkey hides a year are needed to satisfy the demand for a gelatin-based traditional medicine called ejiao, according to the report.

At the current pace, the global donkey population of 44m would be halved over the next five years, the report warns.

Demand is so high that even pregnant mares, young foals, and sick and injured donkeys are being rounded up for slaughter, and since injury and illness often do not affect the quality of the hide, traders have little incentive to ensure humane treatment.

Donkey populations in Brazil have declined by 28% since 2007, by 37% in Botswana, and by 53% in Kyrgyzstan, and there are fears the populations in Kenya and Ghana could also be decimated by the skin trade.

In China, donkey numbers have fallen by 76% since 1992, with the country turning to global imports to fill the gap.

South Africa is one of the very few countries where the donkey population has increased, despite a large number of donkeys being slaughtered.

The Council of Equine and Equestrian Professionals South Africa, a non-profit organisation that protects equine animals, said the increase in their donkey population was due to communities breeding them.