The true cost of donkey skin trade on African economies

A resident in the semi-arid Ciangera village, Mbeere North Sub County fetching water. (File, Standard) Donkeys are facing an existential crisis. Across Africa and Kenya, the unsustainable and global trade in donkey skins, driven by demand for the traditional Chinese medicine ejiao, is devastating populations and the communities that rely on them for their daily social, economic and cultural activities. In a recent survey in Kenya alone, up to 97 per cent of donkey owners have experienced donkey theft. This brutal trade is not just pushing donkeys toward extinction; it is destroying the livelihoods of the people who rely on them for their very survival. Generation after generation, donkeys have been the backbone of rural economies. These gentle and intelligent animals transport goods to market, carry water and firewood, and allow families to generate a modest income and send their children to school. For many women, a donkey is a lifeline, a partner in the daily struggle to provide for their families. Donkeys are intelligent, sensitive animals who form deep bonds with their human co-workers. Yet the global trade, which demands 5.9 million donkey skins for the production of ejiao each year, regards them as commodities, leaving them vulnerable to theft, cruelty, and inhumane slaughter. The donkey skin trade is an animal welfare disaster. Donkeys are taken from their homes and communities, often forced to walk long distances or transported in appalling conditions across borders, before being killed inhumanely. The few donkeys that remain are overburdened to a breaking point. And it is not just the donkeys that suffer; it is humanity. The human cost of the skin trade When a donkey is stolen, a family's future is stolen with it, as many cannot afford to replace them when they are gone. The consequences are devastating. Children, most often girls, are taken out of school to do the labour their donkey once provided. Without their loyal companion, women bear the physical and emotional burden of the work their donkeys once shouldered. This year, an independent study by Maasai Mara University was conducted into the impact of the skin trade. The findings exposed the scale of this tragedy across rural and peri-urban communities in Kenya, providing evidence of families trapped in cycles of poverty, hope extinguished, and futures stolen. The time to act is now There is a need to intensify efforts to end the suffering caused by the skin trade and to protect donkeys and the communities that rely on them. But industry actors cannot do it alone. We need partners and allies to join us in standing against this brutal trade. Progress is being made. In 2024, the African Union Heads of State agreed to a continent-wide moratorium on the slaughter of donkeys for their skin. We call on governments, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies to honour this commitment by implementing robust measures to stop this terrible trade. Kenya has already shown leadership on this issue by banning the commercial slaughter of donkeys and also setting up the Rapid Response Initiative, which curbed most of the illegal bush slaughter that was happening in Kenya, and now is the time for all nations of Africa to do the same. This week, the East African Legislative Assembly will vote on a motion to legislate against the slaughter of donkeys for their skins in all member states. It will be an investment in the continent's future if they decide in favour of safeguarding one of Africa's most precious resources. Every one of us has a role to play. We must raise awareness of the importance of donkey welfare, support communities in protecting their animals, and speak up for those who have no voice. Donkeys have served us faithfully for generations. Now it is our turn to stand up and fight for them.

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