Nearly 6 million donkeys are slaughtered each year for their skin, used in Chinese traditional medicine, a number that can increase by 2027 to 7 million, Donkey Sanctuary announced today.
The donkeys are exported to China for the preparation of a traditional drug known as the name Ejiao, which is used to improve blood circulation, slowing aging, as well as stimulating libido and fertility.
The traditional “Viagra” the Chinese middle class is sought after
This product, which was once the exclusive privilege of the emperors, is now sought after by the Chinese middle class and represents a market over $ 6 billion (5.1 billion euros).
To supply this trade, about 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered each year in the world and that number can reach 6.8 million by 2027.
As China’s donkey population has collapsed in recent decades, passing from 11 million in 1992 to just 1.5 million in 2023, the market is mainly turning to Africa to meet demand.
This market is in constant growth, “has transformed donkeys into goods, supplying a commercial epidemic” that is particularly affecting women and children’s activities, Donkey Sanctuary, a British non -governmental organization, emphasizes in its report.
“Illegal networks operate throughout the continent, often without consequences, stealing and slaughtering donkeys overnight,” the report said.
In February 2024, the African Union banned the trade of donkeys across the continent.
Source: Skai
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