Unchecked slaughter a threat to beast of burden’s survival

Donkeys graze outside Goldox slaughterhouse in Chemogoch, Mogotio, Baringo County. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The uncontrolled legal slaughter of donkeys and trade in its products featured prominently in local and international news last year.

Experts project that in 2020, the situation could get worse as the unchecked slaughter drives the beast of burden to near extinction.

This year, talks surrounding donkey export trade, its sustainability and the growing cross-border theft of donkeys flocking Kenya for slaughter is expected to take centre stage.

Last year, conversations and calls for ban on donkey trade following the dwindling populations and projections of possible extinction in the next three years dominated the news as farmers decried growing theft in the region.

The intensifying trade on donkey skins and hides as well as meat for export saw reports and concerns being fronted, reports that detailed a looming crisis that translates to over 36,000 donkeys being slaughtered in a year with the current intensity.

“It is a crisis unfolding right before us. Statistics do not lie. That is why all eyes, regionally and globally, are on Kenya because it is a hot spot where large herds are slaughtered without any regulations in place. This year will see a renewed fight not only as a result of potential extinction, but also to salvage the rural economy that is dependent on donkeys,” Samuel Theuri, an advocacy officer with Brooke East Africa, a donkey welfare group, said.

Last year, farmers petitioned county assemblies to ban the slaughter of the beast of burden, a move that saw them form an alliance to fight for the rights of donkeys.

The year also marked a pioneer regional conference in Kenya that brought together more countries to deliberate on the looming crisis and offer solutions. The meeting brought out emotive issues stemming from the unregulated trade in Kenya that has fuelled theft across borders.

Global donkey advocacy groups such as Brooke and Donkey Sanctuary say Kenya leads in the unregulated slaughter of donkeys. It is estimated that more than 1,000 donkeys are slaughtered in Kenya daily by the four licensed slaughterhouses to meet China’s rising demand.

“So much is happening; local and international laws protecting these animals are being breached. Across borders, thousands of donkeys are smuggled into countries that have legalised donkey slaughter to meet the export market. Kenya is one of those countries,” said Simon Pope, UK Donkey Sanctuary campaigns manager.

Mr Pope said some governments have delayed banning the trade despite clear statistics because they are riding on short-term financial benefits, leaving behind a trail of broken economies that are dependent on donkeys.

“We are very concerned about intrigues of donkey trade in Kenya. The rise in slaughter is overriding the animal welfare whereas the government is enjoying financial benefits from the revenues,” he added.

Intensifying donkey trade, according to Kenya Agricultural Research and Livestock Organisation, has seen close to 400,000 donkeys slaughtered in three years to meet global export market that requires 4.8 million donkeys to run China’s ejiao industry annually. Donkey skins are used to create ejiao, a traditional medicine.  

To quench the growing demand, donkeys keeping the four Kenyan slaughterhouses running are largely illegally smuggled from Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.

“There is a crisis in Kenya. Kenya, is a major exporter of donkey skins in the region after Nigeria came up with a Bill to ban donkey slaughter and export. To satisfy the growing demand with the current dwindling numbers, evidence of smuggled donkeys from the neighbouring countries points to Kenya,” said Brooke Global CEO Petra Ingram.

Brooke East Africa regional CEO Fred Ochieng said the crisis is becoming intense with close to 400,000 donkeys having been slaughtered between 2016 and 2019. Slaughterhouses, despite having permits, remain unregulated and slaughter against the numbers.

“At this rate, we are staring at a crisis where donkeys will be wiped out by 2022. Reports by neighbouring countries on intensifying cases of theft of donkeys being smuggled into Kenya is a thing to worry about. While many of Kenya’s neighbours have banned the trade, they bear the brunt of donkey theft,” Mr Ochieng said.

Intergovernmental Authority on Development official Wamalwa Kinyanjui said the government should come up with policies to trace stolen donkeys.

Related Topics

Slaughter of donkeys